A relatable romance for the ages: Camelot now on stage at the Laguna Playhouse
By MARRIE STONE
What do medieval England and 21st century America have in common? More than you might think. Because while times may change, human nature does not. Especially when it comes to love. That makes Camelot an evergreen story, newly relatable for every generation.
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Photos by Aaron Rumley
“Camelot,” starring Jered McLenigan as Arthur (center), now on stage at the Laguna Playhouse through August 11
For those new to the story, Camelot is a mythical medieval kingdom in Great Britain where King Arthur held court. Arthur, alongside his wife Queen Guenevere, created a utopian culture of equality and harmony enforced by the Knights of the Round Table. But when French knight Lancelot arrives, he befriends King Arthur and assumes the role of chief knight of the court. He also captures Queen Guenevere’s heart, forcing King Arthur to make some difficult decisions.
In today’s world, when many long for more chivalry and civility among their neighbors, King Arthur’s court brings an air of nostalgia for more civilized times. The Round Table rule requiring “might for right” raises questions about democracy, justice and who’s above the law. All these issues, blended with a beautiful romance, humor and a Tony Award-winning score, make Camelot this summer’s not-to-be-missed production.
The classic Golden Age musical opens this week on the Laguna Playhouse stage and runs through August 11. Directed by Jeffrey Moss and starring Jered McLenigan as Arthur, Lauren Weinberg as Guenevere and Brian Krinsky as Lancelot, the production was originally staged at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach with the same cast and crew.
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(L-R) Brian Krinsky, Jered McLenigan and Lauren Weinberg in “Camelot”
Although the legend of King Arthur stretches back to 1485, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe popularized the story, adapting it into a musical in 1959 and debuting it on Broadway the following year. After three years on Broadway, four Tony awards and a national tour, Camelot made it to the screen, winning three Oscars and three Golden Globes. Richard Harris starred as King Arthur and Vanessa Redgrave as Guenevere.
But for all its well-earned popularity and acclaim, it’s not an easy production to stage. The original cast exceeded 25 people, the runtime more than three hours and the production costs were enormous. This production – scaled down in size to a cast of eight and runtime of 2.5 hours – has been hailed as more intimate, accessible and understandable.
“All the original musical numbers are still there, but we have eight characters telling a clear and concise story about this love triangle between Arthur, Guenevere and Lancelot,” said Weinberg. “People come to the show and tell us they understand Camelot for the first time.”
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Lauren Weinberg and Brian Krinsky in their roles as Guenevere and Lancelot
“It’s the story of a man who eventually is forced to make a choice. A man who must balance the truth of what he believes against the circumstances in which he finds himself. It’s the ultimate story of humanity,” said Moss. “We’ve tried hard to find the truth of all these people and portray them in ways that made them feel real – their foibles, their passions and their tragedies.
“One of the reasons Camelot has enjoyed this longevity is because there’s so much there. It’s not just because the songs remain popular and people still sing them. It’s because the show speaks to whatever generation is watching it.”
In the ‘60s, the Kennedy dynasty seemed to mirror the utopian promise of Camelot. Only days after John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination, Jacqueline Kennedy gave an interview to Life magazine, quoting the iconic line: “Don’t let it be forgot, that for one brief, shining moment there was Camelot.” Her statement not only reflected what the Kennedys tried to create in the United States, but JFK’s love of the musical.
In later years, Camelot reflected a new generation’s frustrations over those unfulfilled promises of the Kennedy era. Today, it ushers in a new wave of socially relevant topics.
“This company said, ‘Oh, isn’t this interesting. Here’s a man who forces us to decide whether he’s above the law or not,’” Moss said.
“There were a couple lines that aren’t supposed to be funny that got chuckles from the audience because of current events,” Weinberg added.
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“It’s a Golden Age musical because it speaks to various generations,” said Moss. “What’s different now is how we’re getting to it and how we’re telling the story. The show hasn’t changed. It’s just reinvented itself. It’s showing us yet another color.”
That “other color” also includes a new and interesting take on Guenevere. Weinberg came to the role without much prior knowledge of the story, but quickly fell in love with the music. “It’s a story about a queen who is taking a back seat to kings and knights, so it was understandable that my brain went to this typical ingénue who is – for lack of a better term – a damsel in distress. Jeff strongly guided me to find her power. Although she’s sometimes a pawn in Arthur’s story, she has a plan and is full of adventure, seeking intellectual love and physical love and something bigger than herself. The challenge was translating that through this score written 60 years ago and making her more powerful than comes off on paper.”
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Lauren Weinberg brings her lived experience as wife and lover to her role of Guenevere, making her character feel authentic and relatable
To accomplish that, Weinberg brought her own life to the role – her marriage and her past experiences falling in love. “A lot of scenes made so much more sense once I brought myself to it,” she said.
Beyond the underlying messages is the humor, the incredible music, lyrics and five-piece band. Even audiences unfamiliar with the production may well recognize such popular songs as “I Loved You Once in Silence,” “If Ever I Would Leave You” and the title song, “Camelot.”
“There’s something for everyone,” Weinberg said. “There’s comedy, beautiful music, but there’s also devastating drama.”
Above all, perhaps, are the abundant reminders provided by the Round Table espousing better ways to live. Like this one: “In a world full of darkness, be the light that shines through.”
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“Camelot” brings together comedy, beautiful music and devastating drama – something for everyone
Camelot runs through Sunday, Aug. 11. Performances will be Wednesdays through Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. There will be added performances on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 8 at 2 p.m. There will be no performance on Sunday, Aug. 11 at 5:30 p.m. There will be a post-show talkback following the Friday, Aug. 2 performance.
Tickets range from $55-$94. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit their website by clicking here.
Laguna Playhouse is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.
