Remembering CAMELOT in the Lusty Month Of May

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 4:42am

Thought it would be an appropriate time to look back since it's once again that shocking time of year, The Lusty Month Of May.

Do we have any board residents who saw the original run? It seems to have been quite a sumptuous production, and who can beat that cast/creative team! 

The production photos chosen are heavily from that infamous number, with a select other few.

This last one appears to be something of a blooper shot!

Updated On: 5/1/15 at 04:42 AM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 5:05am

Gorgeous photos!

I did not see the original - but was fortunate to see Rickard Burton reprise the role in 1980 when a revival played at the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center.

I then saw the next revival in 1981 with Richard Harris as Arthur.

I did not see the Robert Goulet revival - but loved the New York Philharmonic staged concert of it with Nathan Gunn and Marin Mazie.  (Though critics were not kind to Gabriel Byrne as Arthur.)

. . . and I don't know how many times I've watched the film.  Countless.

Adore CAMELOT!

[tazber]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 6:06am

I wish we had a revival of this instead of Gigi.

 

 

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 6:12am

Beautiful photos! Love the sets and costumes, and what a cast!

[Broadwaybound94]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 6:12am

Their is a Touring production of Camelot out right now. I'm going to see it Sunday.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 6:34am

Taz, I would LOVE a revival of CAMELOT!

[1971FolliesFan]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 6:43am

Wonderful photographs! Now all we need is the footage from the production! 

[mamaleh]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 7:07am

Now and then PBS runs a retrospective of Broadway numbers performed on the "Ed Sullivan Show," which includes Julie Andrews and Richard Burton doing "What Do the Simple Folk Do?"--such a charming number.

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 8:59am

One of my very unpopular opinions-- I like CAMELOT's score more than MY FAIR LADY's...

 

Thank you for posting these! 

[MCfan2]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 9:25am

Thank you so much for those! I adore the original cast album of Camelot. I've long wished I could take a time machine to 1960 and see it with that wonderful cast.

[Fantod]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 11:04am

People always say that the book to Camelot isn't great, but I saw a wonderful production of Camelot at the San Francisco Playhouse and thought it was structurally quite sound. The music is of course gorgeous, and the original cast recording is one of the best out there, especially with the amazing voices. Is there any post World War II love ballad as romantic and beautiful as If Ever I Would Leave You?

[jv92]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 11:25am

I don't think the book to CAMELOT is terrible, either. Unbalanced, sure. And I don't think it's able to top itself after that first absolutely magical scene. But it's perfectly fine. The score is lovely, too. The cast album is a prime example of the magic Goddard Lieberson created on record-- even if he did insanely cut the dialogue bridge between refrains of "Camelot." I understand why he did it, but it still makes me mad. He was famous for cutting dialogue on recordings, but interestingly enough, he spearheaded Columbia recording the entire original MOST HAPPY FELLA on 3 LPs and produced his crowning glory of a cast album. 

 

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 12:18pm

So that is the reason I haven't been able to get Nimue's Follow Me out of my head lately (its Jeanne Carlyn, Erin Morley and Claire Moore I hear) hmmm... must be because the Lusty Month of May is upon us! 

The pictures you've included are great works of art. I thank you for them.

In this video the uploader left their contact info, I wonder if perhaps they have more rare footage of Richard Burton, Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet available?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXt6PrC_P9c

Who would you like to see in a revival of Camelot? I rather fancy Claire Lyon as Guenevere, her album On Stage has a delightful cover of the Lusty Month of May. I find her voice, her diction, her classical influences fit for a queen, and she is a lady of charm and appeal. 

[degrassifan]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 1:24pm

Now that I think about it, Lerner and Loewe must've had a fascination with the month of May. Not only is the month given a whole song in Camelot, but May is also referenced in My Fair Lady during "Just You Wait".  

[Musical Master]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 1:25pm

If I need to be honest, CAMELOT needs a revival more than anything before we ever get revivals of MAN OF LA MANCHA and MY FAIR LADY. The original production photos are a gem, just to see how a Broadway musical once had enough money for something of a simple but lavish look to the entire show.

Some productions today can still do that but economics have gotten in the way in recent years.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 3:17pm

Here's the Ed Sullivan performance:

And Robert Goulet in costume. with the same backdrop so I assume from the same show:

[sueb1863]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 3:54pm

I'd like to see a new movie or TV version, too. Fantasy being very big lately and all...

[MCfan2]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 4:53pm

I love "Simple Folk," and all of Arthur and Guenevere's other scenes and numbers together. For me, the great weakness of the show is that I can't fathom how Jenny could fall for Lance when Arthur was around. Okay, Lance was good-looking and had a great ballad to sing, and he could work a miracle or two , but that's it. Arthur was a much more well-rounded, self-aware, honest, and funny character. No contest, IMO!

Updated On: 5/1/15 at 04:53 PM

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 5/1/15 at 11:00pm

MCfan2, the newer revivals have taken care of the question of why Guinivere would fall for Lancelot, although I don't think that's why they've done it:  Arthur is often cast as an older actor, probably after Burton and Harris started the trend by returning years later to the role.

I, too, love the cast album and the original book, but they're apparently nothing like the version that finally made it to the stage.  Why, oh why, would they cut that wonderful men's chorus song, "Fie on Goodness," which is nonetheless on the original cast album?

[Musical Master]

Posted: 5/15/15 at 11:20pm

Here's Richard Burton in CAMELOT during the famous "Proposition" soliloquy. He is one of the best actors who have ever played King Arthur. After watching this I just think, why wasn't he in the movie instead of Richard Harris who tired way to hard.

[jo]

Posted: 5/15/15 at 11:35pm

Love Camelot, the musical!

Love Camelot, the title song!

[harris007]

Posted: 5/15/15 at 11:39pm

They cut "fie on goodness" during previews of the original production. Back then many shows recorded the cast album before the shows opened .

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 5/16/15 at 1:33am

Camelot revival please!!!

i saw the Robert goulet tour 

the sf playhouse version

the richard Harris HBO stage version

and the movie

this is a fantastic musical very intense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 5/16/15 at 12:27pm

Saw the original production at the end of its long run (two years was considered a long run then), but after the original cast was long gone. Still William Squire, a Welsh actor very much like Burton in looks and speech, was a great Arthur, although Kathryn Grayson, of the 40s MGM musicals, was not very good as Guenevere (they interpolated too many trills and runs into her songs, her long-ago specialty). Saw Burton 20 years later (too old by then) and Goulet on tour as Arthur (ditto), but so many wonderful songs in the score that I will always have a fondness for this show.

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 5/16/15 at 9:51pm

It's one of my favorite original cast albums. Sadly, I have only seen the film. It is due for a great big revival!!