Lyric Stage of Boston Scores A Trifecta - Three Perfect Leads for "Camelot" - Through June 25th - A MUST SEE!

There are several kinds of genius on display in the current glorious production of "Camelot" at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston. First, there is the creative genius of composer Frederick Loewe and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner. Then there is the directorial and staging genius of Lyric's Producing Artistic Director Spiro Veloudos. There is the collective artistic genius of Music Director Catherine Stornetta, Choreographer Rachel Bertone, Set Designer Shelley Barish, Costume Designer Elisabetta Polito, Lighting Designer Karen Perlow, and Sound Designer Elizabeth Cahill. Finally, there is the performing genius of a stellar cast led by the troika of Maritza Bostic as Guenevere, Jared Troilo as Lancelot, and Ed Hoopman as Arthur.

Ed Hoopman as Arthur
Jared Troilo as Lancelot
Maritza Bostic as Guenevere
Garrett Inman as Squire
"Camelot"
Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Through June 25th
Photo by Mark S. Howard

The Arthurian legend has provided fodder for writers for many centuries. This current production is a pared down adaptation of the original Broadway version that opened in the early 1960s. The show, with its young and idealistic king and his stunning lady, became associated with the Kennedy presidency. That connection added a layer of poignancy and nostalgia when the young President was assassinated on November 22, 1963. The short-lived Kennedy administration was often referred to as "Camelot." This new version has been adapted by David Lee, with new orchestrations by Steve Orich.

Ed Hoopman as Arthur

Maritza Bostic as Guenevere

"Camelot"

Lyric Stage Company of Boston

Through June 25th

Photo by Mark S. Howard

Accompanying me last evening to the Lyric was a professional musician and theater enthusiast from the Baltics. He had never seen "Camelot," nor was he familiar with the music. To say that he was totally enchanted would be an understatement. The beauty of Loewe's melodies and the nuanced brilliance of Lerner's clever lyrics were not lost on my friend. He also praised the production values and the high level of professionalism of the cast. It was a revelation for me to be able to see this show, which I have loved since owning the original cast album, through the fresh eyes of my friend.

This new and abbreviated version of the musical eliminates some of the minor characters and subplots, and thereby shines an even brighter light on the three primary chess pieces - Arthur the King, Guenevere the Queen, and Lancelot the Knight.

• Ed Hoopman embodies young King Arthur. His stentorian speaking voice is regal, and his singing captures the complexity of the man and his dilemma of knowing that he stands as one leg in a tragic scalene love triangle. We see and hear his heart in "I Wonder What The King Is Doing Tonight," and in "How To Handle A Woman." It is in the staging of this moving song that the genius of Director Veloudos is on full display. Arthur is singing downstage, while upstage on a staircase that does not lead to heaven, Lancelot kneels in prayer, and further up the stairs Guenevere observes. As Arthur closes the song and his revery with the refrain "Love her, love her, love her," we observes love blooming between Lancelot and Guenevere as they gaze longingly at one another. The triangle has been established in a touching and brilliant tableau.
• Jared Troilo owns the stage as Lancelot. From his tour de force opening number, "C'est Moi," we see him as too perfect to be believed. Such purity cannot survive an encounter with the real world that contains the lusty month of May. Will he choose devotion to God or to the goddess Guenevere? Mr. Troilo also shines in the touching love song "If Ever I Would Leave You." 
• The lyrics from that song includes these words: "Knowing you in spring, I'm bewitched by you so." Lancelot is singing to Guenevere, played by the beguiling Maritza Bostic. How appropriate that this graduate of Salem State should have picked up some the Witch City's tricks of the trade in how to bewitch an audience. She has been doing so in Boston since she landed on the Lyric stage in the breakout role of "Little Red Riding Hood" in the award winning production of "Into The Woods." She not only wins the hearts of Arthur, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Roundtable, but of every audience member within the same ZIP code as Camelot. Her rendition of "The Simple Joys of Maidenhood" was a delight, and her interpretation of "I Loved You Once In Silence" was heart-rending.
• Davron S. Monroe as Sir Lionel, Brad Foster Reinking as Sir Dinadan, and Jeff Marcus as Sir Sagramore are three manly Knights of the Round Table. Their moment to shine comes when they join with Guenevere in singing the clever ditty "Take Me To The Fair."
• Rory Boyd as Mordred masters the art of smarmy swagger. Mordred is Arthur's illegitimate son from the days when young Wart sowed his wild oats. Mordred embodies evil intent, and leads the Knights down the primrose path in "The Seven Deadly Virtues."
• Garrett Inman plays multiple roles, but stands out as young Tom of Warwick, who has heard of the wonders of the Roundtable, and begs to be part of the dream. Arthur entrusts him with the task of telling the story of Camelot.
• Rounding out the cast are the excellent Jordan Clark, Margarita Damaris Martinez, and Kira Troilo as Ladies.

Maritza Bostic as Guenevere

Jared Troilo as Lancelot

Ed Hoopman as Arthur

Cast

"Camelot"

Lyric Stage Company of Boston

Through June 25th

Photo by Mark S. Howard

Allow me a digression, and a return to Camelot as the symbol for the Kennedy Presidency. It was a time of hope and wonder, when Americans felt that America was great again, and the sky and the moon were the limit. As the performance of "Camelot" wound down to its tragic denouement, Mordred did his best to undue the dreams and promise of Camelot, undermining all of Arthur's good intentions for peace and prosperity. I could not stop myself from surmising that we have allowed into our American kingdom a Mordred who is systematically unraveling many of the programs that have been put in place to offer peace and prosperity. Perhaps that is why I could not stop a tear from flowing when I heard the elegiac line: "Don't let it be forgot that once there was a spot for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot." Will evil trump goodness in the real world?

This show is proving to be so popular that three extra performances have been added to accommodate the demand. Do not get shut out; order your tickets now. That, after all, is what both the simple folk and the king would do.

Lyric Stage Website

Enjoy!

Al