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Post by Mark on Apr 5, 2023 3:37:29 GMT
I saw this tonight and thought it was a beautiful production.
Particular praise for the performances - Andrew Burnap, Philippa Soo, and a wonderful understudy Matias De La Flor on as Lancelot. I thought all three were perfect.
It's not a show I knew before, there's not really any big production numbers like I've been accustomed to with previous LCT productions, but it is a fairly minimalist production which I thought worked very well.
Act one is particularly long, with a lot of plot crammed into the shorter second act. A very enjoyable evening.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2023 11:43:28 GMT
I've seen it twice and echo what Mark says. In typical Bart Sher fashion, he effectively uses the massive Beaumont stage by bringing in minimal, but effective additional set pieces to the main setting of a castle's walls.
This production makes extensive use of projections to note scene changes and set the mood. The singing and orchestra are wonderful, and all of the principals are strong in their acting performances as well.
Act One is long, but my party found it went by quickly and particularly enjoyed the wittiness in much of Sorkin's updated dialogue. While Act Two is significantly shorter and action-packed, we actually found it more of a slog and were left a bit wanting with the ending.
But we are unlikely to see this show mounted again anytime soon on a Broadway stage, so go see it if Camelot holds any appeal for you. Best to sit in one of the three center sections if possible, but the two side sections aren't bad other than slightly limiting views every now and then.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 5, 2023 12:24:59 GMT
It will always have a place in my heart. The score is filled with great numbers.
Watching the YouTube clips from rehearsals, it struck me how obsessive Lancelot sounded in If Ever I should Leave You. Almost Phantom like in his determination to hang on to Guinevere.
Certainly changed my perception of the role if, indeed, this is out it comes across on stage.
Casting younger for Arthur feels like a good choice.
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Post by Jon on Apr 5, 2023 14:19:20 GMT
It's mad that Barlett Sher with his experience at directing at the Beaumont has never been approached by the NT to direct a play or musical for the Olivier stage.
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Post by emmy on Apr 5, 2023 15:21:23 GMT
Is the show performed with British accents? I’m not very familiar with the source material/ previous productions
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Post by Mark on Apr 5, 2023 15:30:31 GMT
Is the show performed with British accents? I’m not very familiar with the source material/ previous productions Variable accents. I guess there's attempts to use a British accent but as a Brit it sounds very mid-atlantic. |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Apr 7, 2023 15:49:53 GMT
I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting to (my only previous experience of the show being the Palladium Concert last year with Ramin Karimloo, Lucy St Louis and Bradley Jaden which I found mind numbingly boring). The new book makes this a lot more light hearted and fun and the songs really are gorgeous. Unfortunately the production looked absolutely swamped in the Vivian Beaumont and visually was quite boring. It was like Bartlett Sher didn't know what to do with all the space he had? The most fun song to watch was the 'Fie On Goodness' one because there was actually something going on to see. Most of the other songs involved one or two people just standing around singing, it could have easily been a concert version. (Although they did have some complex looking sword fighting sequences). I did really like this cast overall - especially Andrew Burnap as Arthur.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2023 16:28:11 GMT
Most of the other songs involved one or two people just standing around singing Yep. That's Camelot lol. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 8, 2023 21:15:05 GMT
I saw this during my recent trip and really liked it, but it is long. A hint, don't book this for your first night when you've got a chance of being jetlagged.
Almost everything is performed at the front of the stage so this could very easily transfer or tour to more traditional theatres.
Good to see Andrew Burnap in a musical as I only really know him from his role in The Inheritance in the UK a few years ago.
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Post by Fleance on Apr 14, 2023 15:07:58 GMT
Disappointing reviews all around. Still, I'm looking forward to seeing it.
Here's a quote from the New York Daily News review, which seems to express the concern of many of the critics:
"The production is, of course, a victim of its times and the deeply troubling, increasingly settled Broadway wisdom that you cannot just do these older musicals and trust the audience to put them in the context of their times, but you have to render them palatable for the moment. Which means adding political cynicism, mental confusion, fear of sex and a demonstrated distrust of American exceptionalism, even allowing for its human failings, which Broadway always, always did."
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Post by harrietcraig on Apr 14, 2023 19:18:58 GMT
I saw the show three nights ago, and I agree with the person on the Broadway World chat board who said, “It's funny: I don't disagree with almost anything negative that a critic said, yet I didn't walk out of the theatre saying I disliked it either.”
It’s true that the book — both the original and Sorkin’s updates — is problematic, but I expected that, so I just went in hoping to hear a good score beautifully sung (and beautifully played by a full orchestra of live musicians), and that’s what I got.
Some of Sorkin’s updates were a little on the nose, but if there was anything in them that showed a “demonstrated distrust of American exceptionalism” (as the Daily News reviewer thought), it went right over my head. There is one line that — if you choose to read it that way — can be read as a jab at a present-day politician with a large popular following, but that’s a far cry from distrust of American exceptionalism.
As a Lincoln Center Theater member, I paid $72 for my ticket, and I felt like I got my money’s worth. I’m not sure I would have felt the same way if I had paid $298, which seems to be the non-member ticket price for seats in the area where I sat (Row L in the 300’s section of the orchestra). It will be interesting to see if, with those reviews, they can attract enough tourists to keep the show running after all the LCT members have seen it.
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Post by mattnyc on Apr 14, 2023 19:26:49 GMT
“ There is one line that — if you choose to read it that way — can be read as a jab at a present-day politician with a large popular following” It’s Sorkin, so that’s EXACTLY how it was meant to sound  |
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Post by sukhavati on Apr 17, 2023 9:21:36 GMT
As a Lincoln Center Theater member, I paid $72 for my ticket, and I felt like I got my money’s worth. I’m not sure I would have felt the same way if I had paid $298, which seems to be the non-member ticket price for seats in the area where I sat (Row L in the 300’s section of the orchestra). It will be interesting to see if, with those reviews, they can attract enough tourists to keep the show running after all the LCT members have seen it.
$298?!!! I wouldn't mind seeing it, but these kind of prices are why formerly reliable evergreen shows are having trouble selling out. That's also why I didn't spring for nearly $400 to see Hugh Jackman in "The Music Man." I like him, but not * that * much.
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Post by Fleance on Apr 17, 2023 20:04:40 GMT
As a Lincoln Center Theater member, I paid $72 for my ticket, and I felt like I got my money’s worth. I’m not sure I would have felt the same way if I had paid $298, which seems to be the non-member ticket price for seats in the area where I sat (Row L in the 300’s section of the orchestra). It will be interesting to see if, with those reviews, they can attract enough tourists to keep the show running after all the LCT members have seen it.
$298?!!! I wouldn't mind seeing it, but these kind of prices are why formerly reliable evergreen shows are having trouble selling out. That's also why I didn't spring for nearly $400 to see Hugh Jackman in "The Music Man." I like him, but not * that * much.
All seats for Camelot seem to be $195, from the Lincoln Center Theater website. Regarding The Music Man, I saw it in Regents Park with Brian Cox, so who needs Hugh Jackman? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2023 20:40:17 GMT
Discounted seats for Camelot (both advance purchase at Today's Tix, TKTS, t al) are readily available.
If you plan to see even one show at Lincoln Center, getting an annual membership ($50 + processing fee) more than pays off. As a member, I sat front row center for Camelot and paid $82 for my ticket.
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Post by jakobo on Apr 23, 2023 14:30:22 GMT
You can get good seats for $125 on a weekday and $135 on weekend with telecharge discount code. I can post it later if anyone is interested.
By the way, it’s a solid production, I really liked the updated script, thought it was sharp and funny. Phillipa Soo is her usual magnificent self.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Jun 3, 2023 9:42:10 GMT
The cast recording was released digitally yesterday. I'm not a big fan of the score, but it's a lovely recording.
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Post by Jon on Jun 3, 2023 14:08:53 GMT
I notice Trafalgar Entertainment and The Dodgers are associate producers of Camelot which makes me think that we'll probably see a transfer in 2025 which is when Trafalgar's Olympia Theatre is opening.
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