Compelling Characters in "Camelot"

Unlike my fellow New Rep Reviewers, I was not familiar with the original production of Lerner and Loewe’s “Camelot,” and I was actually (quite wrongly) expecting a campy rendition of the tale of the round table.   I was pleasantly surprised, then, when the musical exposed a beautiful love story between Arthur and Guenevere, painful questions of fidelity, the sorrows of watching a dream die, and the excitement born from a glimmer of hope.

The performance is humorous, and there are subtleties and innuendo within that humor that add complexities and enjoyment to the production.  In particular, Lancelot (Marc Koeck) is excellent with his sober expression and naïve piousness.  He is both the greatest white knight and the ultimate villain, and he plays both roles with an earnest likeability.  Also notable is Pellinore (Robert D. Murphy), a wizened, marginally batty King on a quest to find the infamous “Questing Beast,” who thankfully agrees to stop in Camelot and provide sarcastic wisecracks for the rest of the performance.

There are also a few lighthearted moments in the performance that are purely enjoyable, though they do little to further the plotlines.  Guenevere (Erica Spyres) leads the Knights of the Round Table and the ladies in waiting in a jaunty May Day dance scene.  Spyres previously performed at New Rep in Sondheim’s Marry Me a Little, where she had the opportunity to play the violin as accompaniment during the performance.  I was happy that “Camelot” afforded that same possibility.

The costume choices are a bit odd and at times distracting.  Merlin’s shirt looks like it is covered in fake blood, for example.  In addition, while some of the knights wear traditional leggings and tunics, others don hipster grey skinny jeans and glittery knit wool scarves.  It is not heavy-handed enough to make a statement about the universality or timelessness of the themes in “Camelot,” which might have redeemed some of the choices, but it is also not subtle enough to add uniqueness to the wardrobe.

The principal actors were universally strong in the New Rep’s performance of “Camelot” and the supporting cast is delightfully expressive, resulting in an exceptional night out at the theater.

--Victoria Petrosino, New Rep Reviewer