1-10JR-CAMELOT

The cast of Camelot
In the recent past the Pasadena Playhouse has enjoyed a string of mega-hit musicals which have included Sister Act, The Musical, and the more recent Stormy Weather with Leslie Uggams. Alas, it’s doubtful that Camelot will join that elite gathering. Director David Lee’s vision of the Lerner and Lowe classic is, in one word, minimalist. Gone is the splendor and pomp of the traditional story. Gone is the enchantment and magic – gone is Merlin! Instead, the fabled kingdom is seen only in a 12 x 17 inch framed painting of the castle, hung briefly in the first act never to be seen again. What used to be massive walls and fortress is now skeletal bamboo-like scaffolding that serves as a multilevel platform for the eight actors who make up the kingdom. Yes, the hard times even hit Camelot, reducing its vast population to a mere eight people. But don’t get the wrong idea. There is a great deal of comedy in this show, with some sight gags that really work and a few well chosen jives from the cast. The actors are wonderful, with the lovely Shannon Warne singing up a storm. Her Guenevere (called Jenny in the show) is a combination of picaresque flirtation and wanton passion. One thing we didn’t understand was her name. Every source we found has the name listed as Guinevere, but the program has it as Guenevere. Perhaps it’s a different woman? Whoever she is, Shannon Warne fills the role with delightful charm and charisma. Equally engaging is the other Shannon – Shannon Stoeke who is an appealing King Arthur. Stoeke plays it with some naiveté and a bit of innocence. He wants to bring a new way of life to Camelot, where “might makes right” and his fabled “Knights of the Round Table” will fight evil and oppression. He also has an excellent voice and his rendition of the title song, Camelot, easily ranks side by side with the best. Speaking of side by side, one wonders how David Lee handled having two actors with the same first name. What if he said, “Shannon – move stage left a couple of steps” did Shannon Stoeke move or was it Shannon Warne who stepped over? He could have said - "Shannon 1" or "Shannon 2" but actors' egos being what they are, who would be 1 and who would be 2? But enough of the rhetorical.
The third element of the famous love triangle is Lancelot a knight who came to Camelot from France after hearing the call sent by Arthur. Lancelot, who has dedicated his life to reaching self perfection, is committed to doing good, to truth and honor, so he feels that Arthur’s mission is a perfect fit for his compassion and purity. Until he sees Guenevere. Doug Carpenter has a fantastic voice, rich, full and robust, and even though he looks way too young for her, he manages to sweep Guenevere off her feet and away from Arthur’s bed. Somehow, Arthur continues to keep him in the Round Table and Lancelot tries to remain loyal to Arthur. So much for honesty and purity. Not wanting to make Lancelot or Guenevere the villains, Mordred is introduced. He comes claiming to be Arthur’s long lost illegitimate son. Will Bradley sings the role of the villainous and treacherous character who brings down Camelot single handedly by exposing and capitalizing on the affair. Bradley is very good at being very bad.	Doug Carpenter - Shannon Stoeke - Shannon Warne
Arthur’s knights include Andrew Ross Wynn as Sagramore, Zachary Ford as Lionel and Richard R. Segall as Dinadan, all of whom display great singing talent. They also provide a great deal of the comic relief, adding a different dimension to the play. Seth Daly appears as Tom, a young teen-age wanna-be knight who is counseled by Arthur to return to his land and strive to do good. This seems what everyone tried to do in this production. Everyone tried to do good work but somehow the effort did not jell. Maybe it’s the drab costuming; maybe it’s the thin orchestration or maybe it’s the paring down of the story to reduce it to the basic elements of the relationship between the illicit lovers. The last scene of the first act seemed way too long and the scene where she is being burned was a bit confusing in its resolution. But who are we to say anything? Those who judge best are never the critics or the so called experts. The best judges are those who fill the seats after plunking out good money, and even though opening night had a good house, the crowd was a bit conservative in its closing applause with only a smattering of people on their feet for the much sought after standing ovation. Perhaps when one presents a production with minimal elements, there is always the risk that the crowd will respond with same degree of enthusiasm. Comments? Write to us at: Letters@ReviewPlays.Com Camelot will run through February 7, 2010. Click here for ticket information.