Posted on Friday, June 26, 2009
Despite some built-in flaws, the classic musical moves along briskly.
BY BOB CURTRIGHT
Wichita Eagle Correspondent
It's been 22 years since Music Theatre paraded "Camelot" across the stage at Century II, but director Wayne Bryan and a brilliant trio of lead stars guaranteed Lerner and Loewe's admonition in the title song: "Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot."
"Brief," of course, is merely rhetorical because the 1960 classic is a long show (just under three hours) that can wear on audiences, despite such witty and wondrous songs as "The Lusty Month of May," "C'est Moi," "If Ever I Would Leave You" and the title tune.
But director Bryan and choreographer Amy Baker kept the show moving briskly despite built-in flaws that always bring the flow to a halt - notoriously the off-stage jousting scene where Lancelot fatally wounds, then brings back to life through his purity, one of Guinevere's favorite knights.
Damon Kirsche, who was last season's youthful Henry Higgins in "My Fair Lady," gives a similarly youthful appeal to King Arthur to create a more genuine sexual tension with his leading lady than we are used to from Richard Burton's Broadway image or Richard Harris' movie turn.
The lanky Kirsche has a more melodious singing voice than either of those two, which is a plus for the score, but perhaps not quite the same dramatic gravitas. Still, his Arthur is a compelling presence.
Laura Griffith, last seen here as Laurey in "Oklahoma!," has an exquisitely clear soprano that makes us forget - at least for the moment - Julie Andrews' monopolistic hold on the role of Queen Guinevere. Griffith makes "Jenny" deliciously feisty as well as regal and beautiful. Her "I Loved You Once in Silence" sung to her forbidden love, Lancelot, is heartbreakingly beautiful.
And handsome, towering Edward Watts (last year's hilariously conceited gladiator in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum") delivers show-stopping thrills with his "If Ever I Would Leave You" serenade to Guinevere. His holier- than-thou character is a difficult act to pull off, but Watts succeeds in making him understandable in his idealism and then likable and ultimately lovable in his flawed humanity.
As the built-in comic relief, Justin Robertson as crusty and clueless King Pellinore is a pure delight. Robertson has a sophisticated comic gift that allows almost any move, gesture, voice inflection or glance to be hilarious without being overdone.
On the technical side, Bruce Brockman's sets, from a misty forest at dawn to a soaring castle great room lined with banners, are both magical and moody. George Bacon's costumes in a muted palette of blues, browns and golds are elegant but natural rather than Hollywoodized.
© 2009 Wichita Eagle and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.kansas.com
