| Camelot | |
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| Original Cast Recording | |
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| Music | Frederic Loewe |
| Lyrics | Alan Jay Lerner |
| Book | Alan Jay Lerner |
| Based upon | The Once and Future King by T. H. White |
| Productions | 1960 Broadway 1963 U.S. tour 1964 West End 1967 Film 1980 Broadway revival 1981 Broadway revival 1993 Broadway revival 2007 U.S. tour |
Camelot is a 1960 musical play by Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics) and Frederic Loewe (music). It is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White novel The Once and Future King. The main conflict of the novel and the play is the affair between Arthur's wife, Guenevere, and his friend, Sir Lancelot. The original production, directed by Moss Hart, ran on Broadway for 873 performances, winning four Tony Awards and spawning several revivals, foreign productions and a film version.
Roles and original cast
- King Arthur - Richard Burton
- Queen Guenevere - Julie Andrews
- Sir Lancelot - Robert Goulet
- Merlyn - David Hurst
- Pellinore - Robert Coote
- Mordred - Roddy McDowall
- Sir Dinadan - John Cullum
- Morgan Le Fey - M'el Dowd
- Lady Catherine - Virginia Allen
- Nimue - Marjorie Smith
- Sir Lionel - Bruce Yarnell
- Sir Ozanna - Michael Kermoyan
- Sir Gwilliam - Jack Dabdoub
- Sir Sagramore - James Gannon
- Lady Anne - Christina Gillespie
- Squire Dap - Michael Clarke-Laurence
- Clarius - Richard Kuch
- Tom of Warwick - Robin Stewart
Background and original production
In 1959, Alan Lerner and Moss Hart decided to adapt T. H. White's Once and Future King as their next project. As discussed in Lerner's 1978 book, The Street Where I Live,[1]Frederick Loewe, who had no interest in the project, agreed to write music, but he said to Lerner that if things went badly, it would be his last score (Lerner, p. 190). After the tremendous success of My Fair Lady, expectations were high for a new Lerner and Loewe musical. However, the show's production met several obstacles. Lerner writes of his wife leaving him during the writing process (Lerner, p. 204), causing him to seek medical attention, and which caused a delay. When the production began rehearsals, it still needed considerable work. However, the producers were able to secure a strong cast including Andrews, Burton and McDowall, as well as Robert Goulet in his first Broadway role. John Cullum, also making his Broadway debut, later replaced McDowall during the Broadway run.
The show first played in Toronto, at the O'Keefe Centre. The opening night script was very long. Lerner later noted that "Only Tristan and Isolde equaled it as a bladder endurance contest." (Lerner, p. 214) The curtain came down at twenty minutes to one in the morning. The morning papers, though kind, hinted that the show needed much work in order to succeed. Lerner was hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer and had to withdraw from preparations for a time. Hart then suffered a heart attack, and Lerner stepped in as temporary director for the rest of the out of town run. Camelot then moved to Boston, nearly an hour and a half shorter, but still running very long. They tried to find another director, even phoning Jose Ferrer, who could not undertake the job. (Lerner, p. 223) Lerner and Loewe disagreed on what to do, as Loewe did not want to make any major changes without Hart's guidance. Lerner writes: "God knows what would have happened had it not been for Richard Burton." Accepting cuts and changes, he radiated a "faith and geniality" and calmed the fears of the cast. (Lerner, pp. 230-31)
On December 3 1960, after two previews, the show opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theater. Guenevere's song "Before I Gaze at You Again" was given to Andrews at the last minute before the first New York preview, which provoked her famous quote, "Of course darling, but do try to get it to me the night before." (Lerner, p. 232) The New York critics' reactions were mixed.[2] Finally, however, Hart was released from the hospital, and he and Lerner began cutting the play even further. Two songs, "Take me to the Fair" and "Fie on Goodness" were cut.
Fortunately for the show, Ed Sullivan approached Lerner and Loewe to create a segment for his TV show "Toast of the Town," celebrating the fifth anniversary of My Fair Lady. They decided to do very little from their previous hit and instead to perform four highlights from Camelot. The show stimulated ticket sales. It was also publicized, just after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, that the show's original cast recording had been favorite bedtime listening in the White House, and that Kennedy's favorite lines were in the final number (in which Arthur knights a young boy and tells him to pass on the story of Camelot to future generations):
Don't let it be forgot
That once there was a spot,
For one brief, shining moment
That was known as Camelot.
Since then, Camelot has been associated with the Kennedy administration.[3]
The obstacles encountered in producing Camelot were difficult on the creative partnership of Lerner and Loewe. Camelot was also Hart's last Broadway show. He died of a heart attack in Palm Springs, California on December 20, 1961.[4]
Subsequent productions
A U.S. tour followed the Broadway closing. The London production opened in August 1964 and featured Laurence Harvey as Arthur, Elizabeth Larner as Guenevere and Barry Kent as Lancelot. It played for 518 performances. The film version was made in 1967.
Richard Burton reprised his role as Arthur in a revival that ran during the summer of 1980 at the New York State Theater at
The show was revived on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theater in November 1981 and broadcast on HBO a year later, starring Richard Harris as Arthur, Meg Bussert as Guenevere, and Richard Muenz as Lancelot. Harris, who had starred in the film, and Muenz also took the show on tour nationwide. Another Broadway revival played in June 1993 for 56 performances at the George Gershwin Theatre, with Goulet now cast in the role of Arthur. Goulet reprised this role at Toronto's O'Keefe Centre in 1993.
A U.S. Regional tour, starring Michael York as Arthur, James Barbour as Lancelot and Rachel York as Guenevere, kicked off on January 9 2007. Alan Jay Lerner's son, Michael Lerner, has contributed changes to the libretto, and Glenn Casale directed. The tour is scheduled to play at least 25 weeks in the first season, with more in a second season. The cast also includes Shannon Stoeke as Mordred and Eric Anderson as Merlyn.[5] From June 27-30, 2007, the tour played at Toronto's Hummingbird Centre, formerly the O'Keefe Centre, where the musical had premiered in 1960.[6]
Synopsis
Act I
Arthur is in his camp the night before the final battle. His chief adviser Pellinore urges him to attack immediately, but Arthur refuses. He thinks back to his youth when he was mocked as "Wart", but he pulled the sword Excalibur out of the stone and became King.
The story moves forward in time, and Arthur has now matured. Guenevere arrives in Camelot on a wintry morning to marry King Arthur and is greeted festively by the Court. Arthur, shy and nervous, hides in the nearby woods ("I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight?"). Guenevere comes to the woods, uncertain about herself and her future ("Simple Joys of Maidenhood"). She stumbles into Arthur, who initially reveals his nickname "Wart" and then tells her about life in Camelot ("Camelot"), and then discloses his identity. They are each happily charmed by the other.
Arthur learns from Merlin the wisdom of peace and brotherhood before the Wizard is fatefully drawn into the cave of Nimue for his eternal sleep ("Follow Me"), and is inspired to establish the Round Table. When news of this reaches young Lancelot in France, he is determined to come to Camelot and join Arthur's knights ("C'est Moi"). A May Day celebration takes place on the castle grounds ("The Lusty Month of May"), where Arthur introduces his wife to Lancelot. Guenevere takes an instant dislike to the cocky young man and incites three knights of the Round Table to engage him in a jousting match ("Then You May Take Me to the Fair"). Arthur is dismayed by this and at a loss to understand a woman's way ("How to Handle a Woman").
In the jousting match Lancelot easily defeats all three knights, drawing the admiration of all, including Guenevere ("Before I Gaze at You Again"). Lancelot falls in love with the Queen and is torn by the conflict between this love and his devotion to Arthur. He asks permission to leave Camelot for foreign conquests.
Act II
When Lancelot returns two years later, Arthur makes him a Knight of the Round Table. Arthur is painfully aware of the feelings between Lancelot and Guenevere but remains silent to preserve the tranquility of Camelot. Lancelot reveals his feelings to Guenevere ("If Ever I Would Leave You"). Nevertheless, she remains faithful to Arthur, and helps him in carrying out the affairs of State ("What Do Simple Folks Do").
Mordred, Arthur's illegitimate son, comes to Camelot to dishonour the King and try to gain the throne for himself. He schemes with his sorceress-aunt, Morgan le Fey, to trap Arthur in a forest one night. During this night, Lancelot visits Guenevere in her chambers, where she reveals her love for him ("I Loved You Once in Silence"). Mordred and some of the Knights of the Round Table interrupt, accuse Lancelot of treachery, and imprison him. Lancelot escapes, but Guenevere is sentenced to burn. ("Guenevere") At the execution, Arthur watches from a distance, torn between upholding his law (as Mordred urges) and sparing Guenevere. At the last moment, Lancelot rescues her and takes her off with him to France.
For the sake of his own honour and that of Camelot, Arthur must now wage war on France. The war takes a terrible toll on Camelot, as half or more of the Knights of the Round Table are killed. Before the final battle, Arthur meets Lancelot and Guenevere, the latter of whom has joined a convent and become a nun, and he forgives them both. That night in camp, Arthur meets a young stowaway who wants to join the Round Table. Arthur knights him on the field of battle and sends him back to England to grow up there and pass on to future generations the ideals of Camelot.
Musical numbers
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Awards
1961 Tony Awards for:
- Best Actor in a Musical - Richard Burton (winner)
- Best Scenic Design (Musical) - Oliver Smith (winner)
- Best Costume Design (Musical) - Adrian, Tony Duquette (winner)
- Best Conductor and Musical Director - Franz Allers (winner)
- Best Actress in a Musical - Julie Andrews (nominee)
1961 Theatre World Award:
- Robert Goulet (winner)
Notes
- ^ Lerner, Alan Jay. The Street Where I Live (1978) W. W. Norton & Company ISBN 0-393-07532
- ^ Information from Playbill.com
- ^ Information from Bard College website
- ^ New York Times, December 21, 1961
- ^ Playbill news
- ^ Notice for the 2007 Toronto tour stop
References
- Lerner, Alan Jay. The Street Where I Live (1978) W. W. Norton & Company ISBN 0-393-07532
- Summary, production, and licensing information at Tams-Witmark
- Camelot Audition Advice & Show Information from MusicalTheatreAudition.com
- Synopsis and profile of the show
- Profile of the show and information about the 2007 National Tour
External links
- analysis of the show
- information about the show from theatrehistory.com
- Camelot at the IBDB database
- profile of the Majestic Theatre from Playbill
- information about recordings
- Camelot Photos
| Lerner and Loewe musicals |
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Life of the Party • What's Up? • The Day Before Spring • Brigadoon • Paint Your Wagon • My Fair Lady • Gigi (film) • Camelot • Gigi (musical) • The Little Prince |
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