I know, there's a Boston board...but I thought you all might be interested. I'm going to see Camelot at NSMT in a few hours with my mother. It should be...interesting, at the very least. I'll be back around eleven, maybe, to tell all about the scandalous nudity (and probably review it as well, though that might be on the Boston board).
I just came back from seeing it myself. This was my first NSMT production. What follows is not so much a review...just some scattered thoughts. If anyone wants me to round this out, PM me :)
Beautiful astonishing sets (with amazing falling snow) - especially given that this proscenium stage is not NSMT's home theatre. The show itself is long (2 hour 1st act!!), but thoroughly enjoyable. I really liked the concept of remembering the King Arthur story a little darker and less cartoonish through the eyes of a boy (Adam Wylie) who pops up in various roles throughout. Choreography was used to beautiful effect and blended with the time frame being evoked. The much-hyped "nudity" was tasteful, beautiful, and completely justified, in my opinion. Joseph Dellger's King Arthur captured the optimism and torment of the character in fine voice. Special mention to Maxime Alvarez de Toledo's Lancelot -- a tall, sexy, beautiful man whose voice purrs forth beautifully from the boastful "C'est Moi" to the intimate and sweet "If ever I could leave you". Oh, yeah...and he's actually French. It would seem he is a walking Lancelot off-stage too. He was just perfect. Muuuuuch better than the movie's Franco Nero - the only other Lancelot I've ever known. All in all, a beautifully designed and performed production of an admittedly out-of-date (and lengthy) Golden Era musical. Well worth my 1/2 price rush ticket that had me 4th row center ($27!).
I know, I know...but I'm awful at reviews. Besides, you said pretty much all I was going to say.
I disagree a little about the nudity though. I don't think it was needed...but it was handled well. It wasn't the focal point of the scene it was in. It didn't scream "LOOK! THERE'S NUDITY!". So that was good.
Joseph Dellger had a strong voice, good comedic timing ("What did you realize?" "Nothing."), good stage presence...everything you could want in an Arthur. He conveyed Arthur's struggle between those that he loved very, very well, and realistically - the "Proposition" part of the knighting scene brought me to tears. His "Camelot" actually made me believe the things he said.
In the first act, Nili Bassman (Guenevere) seemed to be having some mic problems...it kept crackling. She sounded quieter than everyone else, and it almost seemed as though she was holding back her voice at some points. It was fixed by the second act, which was good. I didn't care much for her in the beginning...but she grew on me. The tension between her and Lancelot was palpable, almost heartbreaking.
Speaking of Lancelot...wow. I definitely had to fan myself with my Playbill a few times. (As did Mordrid, though I'm not sure that was because of Lancelot.) When he says that he's reached perfection of the body, he's not joking. Maxime's got a gorgeous singing voice as well. "C'est Moi" was absolutely hilarious. And his accent...ahhh, that was gorgeous at well. I was very pleased that an actual Frenchman was playing a Frenchman...as opposed to, say, a Canadian playing a Frenchman...
Josh Grisetti as Mordrid was one of my favorites. I don't recall the original Mordrid having a Scottish accent, but it was a welcome surprise. (Side note: I loved his costume.) I got a huge kick out of watching him during the first act - he sat in one of the stage left boxes, observing the action in character. There was always a faint spotlight of him. He did not applaud any of the numbers, and actually seemed quite bored - fanning himself with the Playbill, putting his feet up on the edge of the box, et cetera. It was not until things between Lancelot and Guenevere began to heat up did he really get interested. He was grinning maliciously to himself. He stood up and applauded at one point, and raised a cup in toast to Arthur, Guenevere, and Lancelot when they toasted as well. During the second act, he came across as playful, vengeful, and delightfully evil. He was so manipulative that I actually felt a little bad for him. Having him interact with the conductor/orchestra pit was very enjoyable and cute, in a villian-ish sort of way. It's probably a little obvious that he was a favorite of mine.
My other favorite was Adam Wylie as Merlyn/assorted others. I met him wandering around the audience before the show in costume, doing card/magic tricks for people. I got to be his guinea pig! Having him "control" the set and being aware of what was going to happen (casting glances at Mordrid in his box, who would grin back at him) conveyed that he was the young boy from the end, telling us the story. My only complaint was the red baseball cap...a little distracting. But he was very good doing the "voiceover" for Morgan Le Fay.
Morgan Le Fay...now that was the one thing I really didn't like. A large, crepe-paper/paper maché-like thing. The upper half of a woman on a pole, with leaves and such hanging down for her skirt. She was fat and huge-chested. And her arms were made of cloth, with inflated hands. Very long arms. She was manipulated like a puppet, with three (I think) people holding up the body, and one person each manipulating the arms by a long stick attached to the wrists. I have no idea what that's about.
The audience favorite of the night was David Coffee as Pellinore, who has been in many NSMT shows and is well known in the Boston area. He's a very versatile character actor, and he was a delight as King Pellinore.
Props to the artistic team, for the amazing sets - especially the snow in the beginning! I loved the snow. The NSMT crew seems to be very good at making realistic and 3D-looking trees.
About 95% of the staging seemed perfectly fine for a proscenium stage, but there were some parts (namely, when Lancelot and Pellinore enter from the audience) that made me wonder what it would be like in theatre-in-the-round.
Afterwards, I stage-doored and got Adam's and Josh's signatures. I was as nice and unobtrusive as I could possibly be, and they were very kind in return. I actually had to wait ten/fifteen minutes for Josh to finish talking with some self-proclaimed groupies so I could get his autograph.
So...yep. That's about it. Very, very enjoyable show. A bit lengthy - even Josh commented on that. Poor guy, he has to sit there for two and a half hours and watch the show.
Musicnmath, would you consider going again? I'm actually thinking of student rushing it sometime next weekend.
Mythus -- that's a frighteningly accurate drawing....though she was showing a lot more skin in the chest area
Thoughts on your review: * nudity. I don't think that the musical justifies nudity. I think the concept justified the nudity. In retrospect, the opening de-robing was not particularly necessary, it served to tell you immediately that this was not your average re-production of Camelot. The second instance was perfectly justified in the context of the sensuality/sexuality of lovers in bed. * Pellinore. Good heavens, how could I have forgotten him. I didn't get to read the playbill first, but the audience definitely knew who he was! He was greated with entrance applause -- and rightfully so. Every moment on stage was delightful. * Can I have another little moment for Lancelot? wow. * Mordred. Disgustingly delightfully evil. I never would have thought to put those plummy arm things on a costume. I then kept thinking what the costume/character would be like without them. I decided it was an interesting and successful costume choice. I'd never heard his song before. The interaction with the pit was hysterical and he was fun to watch up in the box. * Adam Wylie. Eh. I liked the concept more than the actor, though I didn't love the choice to have him as Merlin. Though he was perfectly fine in all his roles - especially the voice of Morgan Le Fey. Ditto on the red baseball cap. Very distracting as he played characters like the page. * Another honourable mention for the snow.
Mythus -- I'm out of town this weekend So much good theatre, so little time. Next stop: Hairspray. ...and I just got my ticket for Songs for a New World. FRONT ROW!
So much good theatre, so little time. Next stop: Hairspray. ...and I just got my ticket for Songs for a New World. FRONT ROW!
.jpg?format=auto&width=300)
