Thursday, December 22, 2011

CAMELOT @ THE AVO FOR SDTHEATREREVIEWS.COM



“Camelot”: Bringing the Fairytale Back to Life for the Holiday Season

Words by Kristen Fogle

The Avo Theatre enters busy season during the winter, with several shows encountering this Vista staple due to the creative dynamos and owners of The Broadway and Off Broadway theaters Douglas Davis and Randall Hickman. The pair are currently producing three shows on the Avo stage with “Christmas in the Air” and “Life of a Sofa” playing at the Off-Broadway/Broadway Theatre/s respectively. Though “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “A Christmas Carol” are also playing at the Avo (and are great shows!) perhaps the most anticipated production in the space at this time is “Camelot.”

The original production of “Camelot” was first performed in 1960 and was on Broadway for 873 performances, winning four Tony Awards and spawning several revivals, foreign productions, and a 1967 film version. Written by greats Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music), who also did “My Fair Lady” together, “Camelot” is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White tetralogy novel “The Once and Future King.”

To briefly summarize, the play centers around King Arthur’s nuptials to Guinevere, beginning with a meeting in the forest where she agrees to stay in Camelot and become his queen. During the course of their story, Arthur decides to start the Knights of the Round Table, which is the catalyst for Lancelot to enter the action. Guinevere abhors his piousness at first, but her feelings turn a bit more friendly as the play unfolds. Meanwhile, matters become tricky when Mordred, Arthur’s evil son, and his aunt, Morgan Le Fey, set about to complicate things for Arthur, and come to a head when he realizes the love between Lancelot and Guinevere.

This synopsis does not pay proper homage to the wonderful ensemble and quirky characters that make brief but entertaining appearances; these include Merlyn, Arthur’s teacher, who lives backwards in time, Nimue, a nymph who comes to take Merlyn away, Pellinore, a feisty, comical old knight who is friends with Arthur, and knights Dinaden, Sagramore, and Lionel, who engage in battle with Lancelot.

Indeed every character deserves mention, though there are several standouts that deserve particular praise. Scott Koepf becomes King Arthur; he lends tender, charming qualities to his character and his booming speech and incredibly impressive singing demands attention. Amy McDowell plays acerbic tongued Guinevere and exudes an ease that has most likely been cultivated by her many stints about town, including those at the Welk, Starlight, and Moonlight. (She definitely channels Julie Andrews in “Then You May Take Me To The Fair.”) Pat Moran as Pellinore is a comical gem, and Nimue (played by Charlene Koepf, daughter of Scott Koepf) clearly inherited her father’s talent—her soprano is truly captivating, and I wish this part called for more as her “Follow Me” has stuck with me since hearing it. Knights and ensemble perform with bold gusto, and being an animal lover, I was delighted when Hickman’s own four legged cocker/golden mix Dudley made his stage debut as Horrid.

It must be noted that Hickman’s direction of “Camelot” (running time is two hours and fifteen minutes) has been cut down from an even longer three hour show. Cast member Timothy Benson echoes my sentiments in this regard: “I was impressed that [Randall] took a three hour show, cut it down to two, and left the plot still intact.” The play certainly moves along, and though it is jumpy at times, particularly in the second half, the audience owes Hickman his due in not only preserving the story line, but saving us from what could become tedious if “Camelot” was longer still.

But with engaging scenery skillfully engineered by Douglas Davis, incredible costuming, and an energy exuded by a cast that clearly loves this cult favorite… perhaps that’s just me. After all, it’s been 22 years since Vista has seen this endearing show, and fans of “Camelot” will no doubt be overjoyed to be swept away into this quaint fantasy land—no matter the length of the show.

Camelot
The Avo Theatre
303 Main Street; Vista, CA 92084
12/3-12/18
(760) 724-2110



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