BWW Reviews: CAMELOT at Trinity Rep

When entering Trinity Rep's Chace Theater it is not hard to imagine, given Eugene Lee's gorgeous set, that you are in London during the Blitz of 1940-41 as German bombs level the city and rattle the subway station you and your family have escaped to for shelter.  In the endless hours spent underground you might let yourself imagine that the "perfect" England of King Arthur could still exist.  That premise is the simple leap that director Curt Columbus asks the audience to take in order to enjoy the current production of Camelot.

Stephen Thorne, as King Arthur, adds an approachable quality to the role as he conversationally sing/talks his way through his numbers, most notably the title song.  Thorne has the lion's share of serious acting in the production, which appears effortless.

For the second season opener in a row, Joe Wilson, Jr. gets to revel in a way-over-the-top entrance.  As Lancelot, Wilson gives a wholly enjoyable performance of "C'est Moi". In my opinion, Wilson possesses the strongest singing voice of any local actor.  He was mic'ed, but could have easily belted without amplification.

Rebecca Gibel gives a fine performance as the virginal Guenevere and tears up a terrific, back-dated, arrangement of "The Lusty Month of May".  There is, however, a notable absence of reciprocal sexual tension between Lancelot and Guenevere prior to the plot reveal.

Janice Duclos gets a divine turn as the hedonistic sorceress Morgan Le Fey. She and Jamey Grisham, as Mordred, share a devilish chemistry during their scene together.

Barbara Meek is enchanting as the dotty, aged, King Pellinore and Mauro Hantman dispatches his dual roles of Merlyn and Narrator, with aplomb.

Michael Rice and the band provide outstanding musical accompaniment to the production.

With apologies to Messrs. Lerner and Loewe, I continue to think that Camelot is too long.  Perhaps with Richard Burton it wasn't; but it is.

The attention to pacing in this marvelous production, along with extraordinary visuals and a fair amount of slapstick keep the audience entertained during the two hour and forty minute production. 

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Camelot, directed by Curt Columbus, runs in Trinity Rep's Chace Theater through October 10, 2010. Tickets prices start at $12 and can be purchased at the Trinity Rep box office which is located at 201Washington St., Providence, RI; by phone at (401) 351-4242; or online at www.trinityrep.com.

Photo: Joe Wilson, Jr. as Lancelot, Rebecca Gibel as Guenevere and Stephen Thorne as Arthur

Photo by Mark Turek, courtesy of Trinty Repertory Company

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