CAMELOT
Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Music by Frederick Loewe
Original Production Directed and Staged by Moss Hart
Based on "The Once and Future King" by T.H. White
Majestic Theatre, (12/3/1960 - 1/5/1963)
Preview: Dec 1, 1960 Total Previews: 2
Opening: Dec 3, 1960
Closing: Jan 5, 1963 Total Performances: 873
QUICK REVIEW
The entire community of CAMELOT awaits the arrival of Guenevere, King Arthur of England's future Queen. Members of the audience are quickly drawn in. Some of the enchanting musical numbers include The Simple Joys of Maidenhood, The Lusty Month of May, How to Handle a Woman, I Loved You Once in Silence, If Ever I Would Leave You and What Do the Simple Folk Do? In the end it is fourteen-year-old Tom who tells the world of Camelot's quest for right and honor and justice.
BRIEF HISTORY
CAMELOT opened on December 3, 1960 played for 873 performances on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre and for 518 in London at the Drury Lane Theatre. It starred Richard Burton as Arthur, Julie Andrews as Guinevere, Robert Goulet as Lancelot and Roddy McDowall. After initially faltering at the box office, the show became a notable hit when it was publicized that the show's original cast album was favorite bedtime listening in the White House of President John F. Kennedy. Forever afterward, the name "Camelot" has been associated with the Kennedy administration.
The show was revived on Broadway in 1981 and 1987. In the 1967 film version, Richard Harris played Arthur, Vanessa Redgrave was Guinevere and Franco Nero was Lancelot. The film was directed by Joshua Logan.
SYNOPSIS
A nervous King Arthur tries to cajole Merlyn, his teacher, to tell him about Guenevere the future Queen. Merlyn knows the future, as he lives from the future into the present. He grows younger instead of aging. Upon her arrival Guenevere dodges the awaiting crowds and hides as she sings The Simple Joys of Maidenhood. Arthur and Guenevere accidentally meet in the forest and are delighted to find they are charmed with each other. The wonderfully placid Camelot, where royal decree sets the tone, becomes the set for a story of love and chivalry.
The trusty Merlyn is lured away from Arthur by a spirit and Arthur is on his own. Five years pass and Arthur tries to follow the course of wisdom set for him by Merlyn. He creates a new philosophy, one that says might should be the weapon of right. He creates the Round Table, a new concept of chivalry whose advocates will be charged with improving rather than destroying, with redressing past wrongs and aiding the oppressed. The table at which these knights will meet will be round so that no one man can take precedence by sitting at the head.
The word of this Round Table spreads to France where Lancelot heeds its call and arrives in Camelot. In C'est Moi Lancelot proclaims that he is the most extraordinary mortal, the perfect and invincible knight. He has dedicated his life to the quest for perfection in body and spirit. The queen and her party are engaged in a May day outing when Lancelot arrives. Everyone finds him pompous and disagreeable except Arthur.
Pellinore, a comic old knight in rusty armor, delays his perpetual search for a rare beast, to stop with his old friend Arthur upon Guenevere's invitation. Lancelot is challenged by Sir Dinadan, Sir Sagramore and Sir Lionel the three strongest knights. In The Jousts he defeats all three, and even miraculously brings Sir Lionel back to life after killing him. Lancelot finds that he has fallen in love with Guenevere and sings If Ever I Would Leave You to illustrate the strong hold Guenevere's love has on him. Mordred, the evil son of Arthur, arrives and tries to dishonor the King. He mocks Arthur's high ideals and tries to foster Guenevere's love for Lancelot. Arthur becomes despondent and Guenevere tries to cheer him with the lovely number What Do Simple Folks Do. The knights begin to grow restless for the battles of old when Arthur's leadership wanes. Mordred has Guenevere arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake for her love of Lancelot. The number Guenevere telescopes this action in a Camelotian form of Greek chorus, as she escapes to France with Lancelot. Arthur declares war on Lancelot, but just before the fighting begins forgives them both. He is sad and disillusioned, his dream of love is destroyed, and that of chivalry ruined.
Tom, a boy about 14, appears and wants to join the Round Table. Arthur knights him, and sends him to tell the world of Camelot's quest for right and honor and justice. Additional memorable numbers include Camelot, Lusty Month of May, How to Handle a Woman and I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight.
Camelot Awards
1961 Tony AwardŽ Best Actor in a Musical
Richard Burton [winner]
1961 Tony AwardŽ Best Actress in a Musical
Julie Andrews [nominee]
1961 Tony AwardŽ Best Scenic Design (Musical)
Scenic Design by Oliver Smith [winner]
1961 Tony AwardŽ Best Costume Design (Musical)
Costume Design by Adrian, Tony Duquette [winner]
1961 Tony AwardŽ Best Conductor and Musical Director
Franz Allers [winner]
1961 Theatre World Award
Robert Goulet [winner]
SONGS:
Act 1
I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight? ................................. Arthur
The Simple Joys of Maidenhood ................................................. Guenevere
Camelot ................................................................................. Arthur and Guenevere
Follow Me ............................................................................... Nimue
C'est Moi ................................................................................ Lancelot Du Lac
The Lusty Month of May ........................................................... Guenevere and Ensemble
Then You May Take Me to the Fair ............................................. Guenevere, Sir Dinadan, Sir Sagramore and Sir Lionel
How to Handle a Woman .......................................................... Arthur
The Jousts ............................................................................. Arthur, Guenevere and Ensemble
Before I Gaze at You Again ...................................................... Guenevere
Act 2
If Ever I Would Leave You ........................................................ Lancelot Du Lac
The Seven Deadly Virtues ......................................................... Mordred
What Do the Simple Folk Do? ................................................... Guenevere and Arthur
The Persuasion ....................................................................... Mordred and Morgan Le Fey
Fie on Goodness! .................................................................... Knights
I Loved You Once in Silence ..................................................... Guenevere
Guenevere ............................................................................. Ensemble
Camelot (Reprise) ................................................................... Arthur
Opening Night Production Credits
Theatre Owned / Operated by The Shubert Organization
Produced by Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe and Moss Hart
Music by Frederick Loewe; Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner; Book by Alan Jay Lerner; Based on "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White; Musical Director: Franz Allers; Music orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett and Philip J. Lang; Dance and choral arrangements by Trude Rittman
Staged by Moss Hart; Choreographed by Hanya Holm
Scenic Design by Oliver Smith; Costume Design by Adrian (Worked on the designs for 3 months before he died in September 1959) and Tony Duquette; Lighting Design by Feder; Hair Design by Ernest Adler; Sound Design by Jack Mitnick; Assistant to Mr. Smith: Bill Pitkin and Jack Brown; Assistant to Mr. Duquette: Stanley Simmons
General Manager: C. Edwin Knill; Assistant Gen. Mgr: Charles Gnys
Production Stage Manager: Robert Downing; Stage Manager: Edward Preston, Bernard Hart and Jonathan Anderson
Orchestra Personnel Manager: Sol Gusikoff; Assistant Conductor: Saul Schecter
Assistant to the Producer: Stone Widney; Press Representative: Richard Maney and Martin Shwartz; Advertising: Lawrence Weiner; Asst. to the Choreographer: Pat Drylie
Opening Night Cast
Julie Andrews......Guenevere
Richard Burton......Arthur
Robert Coote......King Pellinore
John Cullum
(Broadway debut)......Sir Dinadan
M'el Dowd......Morgan Le Fey
Robert Goulet......Lancelot Du Lac
Roddy McDowall......Mordred
Virginia Allen......Lady Catherine
