Review: CAMELOT at Lyric Stage

Lyric Stage at the Irving Arts Center once again brings an off forgotten show back to life with their most recent production, Camelot. While the text of the show has had its fair share of revisions and struggles, due in part to a wordy book, Lyric's production manages to bring smiles to the audience and music to their ears.

Camelot, originally on Broadway in 1960 (winner of four Tony Awards in '61) sports book and lyrics by Lerner Loewe. Camelot sports some of their best work musically (other notable works include My Fair Lady, Brigadoon, etc.), with one of the best overtures and uses of Brass and Horn in recent memory - the orchestra under Jay Dias's view makes sure we are aware just how beautiful it is. Specifically, the songs "If I Ever Would Leave You" and "Before I Gaze at You Again", provided by Christopher J. Deaton (Lancelot) and Kristen Beth Williams (Guenevere) respectively, remind of just the kind of romantic ballad we don't see enough of anymore.

The production at Lyric does more than well with the book, despite the perhaps too frequent melodramatic monologues Lerner supplied. The show runs long, but Director Len Pfluger keeps things moving amongst Cornelius Parker's cool set. Lights (Julie N. Simmons) bounce off frames or burlap and a gilded central tree, as if an illuminated manuscript has come to life on the parchment. The design of the characters and costumes is lush and classic (despite a few "party city" moments), and the wig design especially impressive on Guenevere (though a beard early in the show looks straight from a bag).

The performances, however are perhaps the most joyous thing about Lyric's revival. Kristen Beth Williams shines as Guenevere, no surprise given her credits; her mixed voice and carefully brash Queen is a joy to watch, and I often found myself waiting for her to return to the stage. Christopher J. Deaton's Lancelot, too, sounds wonderful, his reverberating bass fills the theatre. None however, is quite as fun as Sonny Franks' Pellinore, who's one liners are easily the best thing about Lerner's script. J. Brent Alford leads the charge nobly as Arthur, doing the best he can with some of the tackier monologues. Although he is clearly not the age Richard Burton was when the role was created, he still brings fun and joy to the opener "I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight" and the requisite pre-climax comic relief duet "What do the Simple Folk Do?".

Lyric's Camelot is a great romp through the past, and brings back lots of nostalgia for Golden Age fans. Aside from a late Act 2 action sequence, the show ran swiftly and coolly; the well placed ensemble gives the eye plenty to take in during the lengthier chunks of text. I appreciate how much Lyric pays respect to these forgotten shows, regional revivals are perhaps the most important. While I don't think any production will quite make up for the tropes and weaknesses of the book of the show, this one certainly provides a romantic and reminiscent musical experience we see far too little of now.

Camelot runs through September 18th at the Irving Arts Center's Lyric Stage.

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