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The Post-Standard News
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April 9, 1994 'CAMELOT' SETTING IS NEARLY ROYAL Neil Novelli, Contributing Writer As the finale of its first season, Appleseed Productions is staging the popular musical "Camelot" on and around the altar at the Atonement Lutheran Church. The show is Lerner and Loewe's version of the legend of King Arthur and his Round Table, and the love affair between Queen Guenevere and Sir Lancelot. Like the old stories it's based on, "Camelot" tells of an attempt to replace brute force with compassion. The site is well chosen for dramatic impact. The simple but soaring church architecture creates a feeling of grandeur that no theatre set could provide. Director C.J. Young uses the setting for powerful visual effects. For example at the close of Act I, King Arthur (Michael Chellis), knowing that tragedy is closing in, re-dedicates himself. Standing in a narrow zone of light, he holds his gleaming sword Excalibur aloft, while the huge altar cross high above him is bathed in a crimson glow both warm and ominous. Other moments of strong emotion, like Guenevere and Lancelot's first awareness of their love, or Lancelot's miraculous reviving of a dead adversary, spring into memorable clarity. Unfortunately, the chancel environment, perhaps because of the acoustics, works against the easy five and take of dialogue. Spoken scenes were audible, but usually slow and often stilted. The dialogue needs a lot more variety of pace and volume, more nuancing and more animation.. The cast's voices are lovely on favorite tunes like "Camelot," "If Ever I Would Leave You" and "What Do the Simple Fold Do?," accompanied by a three-piece group under music director Jay Berry. Any production of "Camelot" would be lucky to have Chellis' warm, relaxed baritone in the role of Arthur. His singing is wonderful, although he plays the role of Arthur with too much reserve. Tracy Rand, singing with a light soprano, takes Queen Guenevere from early girlishness to maturity. Charles Wagner is excellent, both as the priggish young hero Lancelot who sings, "I'm simply the best," and later as the older, penitent Lancelot. Rich Boynton is Mordred, Arthur's evil son, a cheerful man who delights in destruction. Linda Ann Hill, as sorceress Morgan le Fey, dance a hilarious shimmy to the joys of candy. Dan Randall is the crotchety prophet Merlin. Copyright (c), 1994, The Herald Company. |
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