Review: CAMELOT - Royally Entertaining

CAMELOT by Lerner and Loewe, currently playing at the Georgetown Palace Theatre is certainly a bright, shining moment on stage.
An adaption of fantasy classic, The Once and Future King by T.H. White, the musical premiered in 1960 starring Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, Roddy McDowell and Robert Goulet in his first Broadway role. The story of King Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot, has captured the hearts of theatre goers for over 50 years. The story begins as Arthur (Joe Penrod) is waiting to meet his arranged bride, Guenevere (Kristen DeGroot). Merlin (Dale Schultz) does his best to calm the king's fears, but it's only after the couple accidentally meet that they decide that they have a future together. The arrival of self proclaimed perfect knight Lancelot (Justin Dam) causes a stir in the court, uniting them against the boastful warrior. It's only after Lancelot performs a miracle that Guenevere falls as hopelessly in love with him as he has been with her. Facing charges of treason, the pair keep their distance from each other until Arthur's illegitimate son Mordred (Creighton Moench) traps the king, preventing him from returning to the castle. The tale has a sad ending, but the musical ends on a hopeful note with Arthur telling young Tom of Warwick (Connor Denton):
"Don't let it be forgot
That once there was a spot,
For one brief, shining moment
That was known as Camelot."
Iconic songs, "C'est Moi", "How to Handle a Woman" and "If Ever I Would Leave You", highlight Lerner and Loewe at the pinnacle of their talents. As a child I listened to the soundtrack (my mother's favorite) on LP so often I still have every song memorized. There's a reason why CAMELOT has remained a steady draw for audiences after all this time, it's an absolute joy to watch, fun, inspiring and deeply moving.
The Palace production possesses all the hallmarks of the rich tradition of CAMELOT. In the role of King Arthur, Joe Penrod gives a stellar performance. His rich voice, loving characterization and spot on timing makes the audience love every moment he is on stage. As Guenevere, Kristen DeGroot is absolutely stunning. She is both playful and tragic as the doomed queen, her voice a match for Julie Andrews any day. Justin Dam's performance as Lancelot is romantic and flawless. In the company numbers of "The Lusty Month of May", "The Jousts" and "Guenevere", the ensemble is utterly delightful. The choreography showcases the cast's talent excellently. Full credit to Director Mary Ellen Butler for her excellent staging and attention to detail. Costumes by Ramona Haass are lush and gorgeous, using the fantasy medieval theme to perfection. The set is superior, moving from deep forest to sumptuous castle with seamless ease and beauty.
I highly recommend a trip to CAMELOT before it disappears once again into the mists of time.

CAMELOT Book by Alan Jay Lerner, Music by Frederick Loewe
Directed by Mary Ellen Butler
The Georgetown Palace Theatre, Georgetown, Texas

Weekends April 22 - May 22, 2016.
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

RUNNING TIME - 3 hours with one 20 minute intermission

TICKETS - $15 - $28, georgetownpalace.com

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