Camelot LCT Benefit — Page 3

how much are the extra tickets? I would only need one

bumping for reports from those lucky enough to be there tonight

I was there last night and, overall, thought it was wonderful (Of course, don’t like to be too critical of one-night-only performances). Everyone seemed very well-rehearsed to me. Jordan Donica was a highlight, IMO. I loved both his performances as Raul and Freddy, but I’m surprised to say that his one-night take on Lancelot was my favorite of all. He and Danny Burstein as Pelinore got most of the laughs - well earned. Solea Pfeiffer made a fun Guenevere. She sounded wonderful when I could hear her but at times her voice sounded muted to me (especially during Simple Joys). This is a problem I’ve had before at Vivian Beaumont - most specifically “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” comes to mind (both times I saw it - with LA and LB). However, her Lusty Month of May sounded perfect to me. Ruthie Ann Miles, while only shortly featured, sounded and looked absolutely stunning - goddess-like. I believe one of the things that worked best in this production was casting mixed-gender knights. Jen Colella, Bonnie Milligan, and Jason Danieley colored each character so differently (and I MUCH prefer the songs with women’s voices in the mix). I’m not a huge fan of act 2, but Ethan Slater was energetic and physical as ever with Mordred (in a good way!). Even though there was no set, I felt transported by the staging, and their blocking/choreo/suggestive costumes/outfits were enough to make the world come alive. I was impressed most of all with how energetic it was. Several benefit concerts I’ve attended have, understandably, felt slightly weighted by time constraints - but here, all performances were sharp and well-paced, so the night FLEW by. Lin Manuel Miranda was very much himself, but I enjoyed it! He played Arthur’s self-doubt and inner boyishness successfully and he felt, to me, a warm, passionate core to a warm, passionate cast. I could understand some true-blue Camelot fans being disappointed at seeing LMM act as LMM, but, for me, it worked. Julie White was a pleasant cameo - obviously not a tremendous amount of material to work with, here - but she got the job done. Apart from a few volume issues, I thought the evening was fantastic. Like I said, it flew by. And the orchestra was, needless to say, perfect!! I kept getting chills.



Happy to answer any questions about things I forgot to mention!

Updated On: 3/5/19 at 08:40 AM

Did they perform any of the frequently cut songs? Take Me To The Fair, The Persuasion or Fie On Goodness?