Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS- Page 9
Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
#200re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 2:01am
What the hell happened to "Fie on Goodness?"
All in all, a very mixed bag. The moments that I enjoyed Byrne were few and far between. Richard Burton was no singer, but he still sounds great on the OBC. And I can't imagine the Arthur Byrne presented as being able to lead a country. He was constantly looking like he was falling apart at the seams.
I'm surprised nobody has commented on Marin's two (at least) lyrics flubs. I distinctly heard her mess up in "Lusty Month of May" and "Take Me to the Fair." It seems like I know the Camelot score better than she does.
#201re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 2:03amIt's sad when Fran Drescher has a better sense of music and melody than the leading man.
#202re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 2:08am
Is there a rule in the licensing of the show that says you cannot have a
good singer as Arthur? (I saw Goulet play Arthur here in Toronto back in
1993 prior to taking the show to New York. Sang well. His acting was...
Robert Goulet-ish. (I recall watching him listen to others on stage singing
and he was bouncing on his heels in time to the music. Not quite correct
for a King,) Byrne was in the general vicinity of the notes, but the man
ain't got rhythm!
My parents saw the world premiere in Toronto, Oct 1, 1960. (I was 10 months
old, so not allowed to go!) The just remember it was long and that they
didn't get home until well after midnight. Still they bought the album when
it came out, so I guess they liked the score. I grew up with that album, so
those performances are burned into my brain. No one else ever sounds correct
in those roles.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
ShbrtAlley44
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/03
#203re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 2:11am
Yeah, what did happen to "Fie On Goodness"?
I thought Drescher was horrible and amateurish.
#204re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 2:12am
I just got done watching this in PBS-HD (yay HD!) in Seattle.
Now I've never actually sat and listened to the cast recording, nor ever watched a version of it (the Michael York tour came through Seattle, but I kinda wasn't in the mood to catch it). I was a little confused by the plot points, so I had to drag out my cast album to follow along.
I thought Mazzie and Nathan Gunn were very good. I liked Mazzie in Passion, but then lost interest in her for everything else she did afterward. It was nice to rediscover her again. Nathan Gunn was excellent, and all night I wondered what he would sound like singing "Some Enchanted Evening". Maybe when Paulo Szot leaves...
After I got over the nasty rejected "Taboo" costume on Mordrid, I thought he did a pretty good job. Christopher Lloyd I thught was excellent (though for some reason, my sister and I both thought he had died). I liked Fran in her cameo. The backup knights were good (angry Marc Kudish!!!) It was a pleasant surprise to find out Merlin was Stacey Keach (I didn't make the connection until they announced his name at the end).
I think the only weak link here (besides costumes, set of blocks, direction, etc.) was Byrne. I wanted to like his bumbling Arthur, but after a while, it was hard to distinguish if that was how he was directed, or if he really was unsure of the next line/lyric, and it got annoying for me.
My only major gripe was that PBS kept cutting out. Sometimes for long sections, and sometimes just a second or two. I nearly yelled at the TV. Hopefully they will correct the feed for the repeat early Saturday morning here.
Xanadu! Can't cry on cue!
Updated On: 5/9/08 at 02:12 AM
#205re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 2:17am"Fie on Goodness" was also cut from the recent tour, but they did retain the "Scotland" verse for the beginning of act two as one of the knight's poems he sang prior to Lancelot singing his poem.
#206re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 2:26am
I have just come home from a party here in Holly-wood where we had bad fried chicken and watched "Camelot." We were actually looking forward to this morceaux d'merde, so it was a depressing night indeed. It was perhaps the single most excruciating show I have ever seen. When did it switch to "Dead From Lincoln Center?" Byrne was TERRIBLE. HIDEOUS. He was either one bar ahead or somehow TWO bars behind the orchestra in every song (which inand of itself is an accomplishment that should not be overlooked). I saw Harris butcher the revival following Burton and even when he was phoning in his performance, at least it was in time and key.
The costumes were Calvin Klein meets Klingon warrior and what was with the Chinese rhythmic gymnasts?
Obviously, great troopers like Keach and Lloyd and - I can't believe I'm saying this, Dresher, were dependable foils, but my god I was considering regicide for two and a half hours.
And did Mordred just come over from the last performance at OMFUG?
It was pointed out that Miss Mazie's mouth is enormous, but at least sweet sounds sprang forth.
I saw the very first performance of "Camelot" at the O'Keeffe (sorry, Frontrowcenter) and I believe "Fie On Goodness" was there but it was excised before Broadway. It definitely is not in the Tams Witmark version I directed in 1974.
Terrible TV show. Off to wash the bad taste out of my mouth and take plenty 'o Pepto.
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699
niblet
Swing Joined: 5/9/08
#207re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 2:41am
Nice job Rishi, I liked the whole show. Thanks for the little insights about the cast.
I couldn't help but wonder as you were on, these last few weeks if your dad asked you if your homework was done, did you answer, "Yes, my Lord!"
#208re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 2:59amYes, if there was one brief shining moment it was Rishi who showed plenty of potential. Unlike his co stars.
#209re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 4:38am
I saw the very first performance of "Camelot" at the O'Keeffe (sorry, Frontrowcenter) and I believe "Fie On Goodness" was there but it was excised before Broadway.
Why sorry? LOL! It just means you're much older than I!!!
Fie in Goodness was in the show as of the New York opening (as per Best Plays of 1960/61) bit was cut (along with Take me To the Fair) in Feb 1961 when Moss Hart, recovered from his hart attack returned to the production and suggested to Lerner and Loewe that they cut the show by about 20 minutes.
BOTH songs were back in the show for the 1964 London production, and Take Me To the Fair made it into the movie.
The 1980 Richard Burton revival (supervised by Lerner) dropped Take Me to the Fair (and The Persuasion) but kept Fie on Goodness. (This version added a brief prologue, like the film, where Arthur is on the battlefield and recalls the incidents that lead him to this moment in flashback.) This is the same version seen on Broadway (and out on DVD) with Richard Harris in 1981 and again in 1993 with Robert Goulet.
As for this TV version, I wasn’t as appalled by it as some here were, and I am glad to get a recording of The Persuasion. It has never been on any CAMELOT cast album.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#210re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 4:56amI also noticed that Lonny cut Arthur's new speech short at the very end. In the tour that whole bit about people questing once again for right and justice ended with Arthur saying "...and an end to war." which had half the audince on their feet a few seconds prior to the finale.
bwaybabe2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/5/08
#211re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 4:58am
CATS-makes me feel better to see I am not the only one with the "programming" of the DVD recorder...!!!
This is exactly why I missed "Live...", since I was not home, and I REALLY wanted to see it 
BTW, I am a big fan of Gabriel Byrne, although I have never heard him sing...but if it is as good as his acting, he should be great.
buddharich
Featured Actor Joined: 3/23/07
#212re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 5:40am
For the most part, I really enjoyed this version of Camelot. The show is one of my all-time favorite shows, and I've never understand why so many people dislike it. I contrast it with its' opposite: South Pacific, which I don't like very much at all. It seems that most people like one and not the other.
My biggest problem was that I wished they had cast an Arthur who could actually sing. Both Richards, Burton and Harris, gave terrific vocal performances.
Marin Mazzie & Nathan Gunn had amazing chemistry. Stacy Keach was particularly good as Merlin. I liked the staging very much, but I understood it was a semi-staged version, so I reacted accordingly.
They may have cleaned up the sound problems others mentioned as it wasn't the case on the tape delay version I watched.
And I'm sorry if I offend others, but Marin Mazzie was not pitchy or flat - she sang gloriously!
Can anyone tell me who possessed that beautiful voice who sang "Follow Me"?
As for Mordred and Morgan La Fey: I enjoyed them enough and didn't hate their scenes the way so many others did.
I now want to see the movie again, and listen to the various recordings of this glorious score!
#213re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 8:07am
I really wanted to like this - but the only word for the whole mess is Dreadful. The fault lies mainly with casting Byrne as Arthur. For most of his performance , especially when he sang, he looked like a patient from an alzheimers ward ... completely lost. I am so tired of "Old" Arthurs. Byrne, acting the exact same way, could have made a wonderful Pelinore,but as it is he looked like Guiniveres father.
While I really liked the actor who played Mordred, he lacked any true menace. All he needed was a spanking.
Ms. Mazzie and Mr. Gunn were wonderful, but needed a better production.
I have really enjoyed most of Lonny Price's direction in other concerts, but he truely failed in this one. It's too bad, it had the potential of being great. I wonder if they still will release this to DVD. It's too bad because there isn't a good filmed version of Camelot. Both the film and the HBO version are pretty bad too.
Congrats too Esparza333 - you were great.
sparrman
Broadway Star Joined: 2/21/07
#214re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 8:18am
Along with the many other reservations I had about Byrne's dreadful performance, he was useful for reminding us how MUSICAL Burton and Harris were, despite not being "singers" per se.
One of Byrne's very worst acting moments: At the end, Guenevere says that so often in the past, she's been able to look into Arthur's eyes and find forgiveness. But now they won't be together, and she won't see it. Then she has the line "Oh Arthur; I see what I wanted to see!" This line pretty much requires that Arthur at least BE LOOKING AT HER. She is the one love of his entire life, he will never see her again, but Mr. Byrne couldn't be bothered to LOOK HER IN THE EYES to give her the required motivation for her next line! Unfathomable.
What the role of Arthur needs is what it had originally: A young, classically-trained actor. Someone who has cut his teeth on Shakespeare. Mr. Byrne may have given some good performances in the past, on film and even on stage, but even when he was the right age (which would have been the early 1980s) I don't think he would have been a particularly compelling Arthur. Now? Forget it, grandpa.
With productions like this, it's no wonder Camelot has such a bad reputation.
Updated On: 5/9/08 at 08:18 AM
JohnBoy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/06
#215re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 8:26am
No one else ever sounds correct in those roles.
That's because no one else ever is!
As for Fie On Goodness, it was not cut prior to Broadway, because it was in the show when I saw it for the first time, which was week two of its run. When I went back to see it, about eight months later, it was gone. So, it apparently was cut when Moss Hart returned from the hospital, approximately 3 months into the Broadway run.
#216re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 8:29am
"Then she has the line "Oh Arthur; I see what I wanted to see!" "
I hate the addition of this line to the script. Originally after she says the line about looking is his eyes for forgiveness the direction has her looking in his eyes and seeing the forgiveness and that understanding is shown in her expression and his. The drama is in that and in the beautiful music playing underneath it. Nowadays, they think the audience is too stupid to get it so they add that line, which in my view ruins the true wonder of the moment.
MCfan2
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/06
#217re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 8:41am
Are you sure about that, South Fl Marc? I have the book with the original script in it (though I don't know what may have been added/subtracted between premiere and publication) and that line is in it.
Sounds like I don't have much to look forward to on Sunday. Poop. Is just ONE brilliant production of this show in my lifetime too much to ask for??
#218re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 8:43amdid anyone happen to rip this show for DVD? and if so, could you PLEASE make me a copy? i am sad i missed it!
#219re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 8:47amSome PBS stations are repeating it this weekend, so you might be able to catch it still.
Auggie27
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
#220re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 9:08am
A debacle. I'm sorry, Ms. Mazzie was wrong from the start. Her decision to use an Iowa accent -- really, it wandered all over the midwest for no clear reason -- was inexcusable. These are British characters, and with Byrne at least on the right continent and Gunn employing French, why did she Americanize this woman? It must be said: she and Byrne are too old. This is not a show about two middle aged people, even in act two. Mazzie acted the role as a 40ish Nellie Forbush, and then sang it like the Queen in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. It never came together. And Byrne's decision to talk the part made no sense, because clearly he had Burton's notes. Who let him work against the rhythm?! Why? Ghastly. He worked hard, but a 55ish Arthur doesn't sell the first act material.
We needed maybe Hugh Jackman and Audra McDonald to lift it. We didn't get anything close.
Everything else but Nathan and the three knights from Broadway was ghastly. Putting Steggert in Rocky Horror by way of early Chastity Bono was the penultimate error. The biggie came last and loudest: Ms. Dresher and her big candy bar from Times Square. The final bit of product placement turned a cheese fest into a chocolate covered t--d.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
#221re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 9:32am
God, you guys are fabulous. What an AMAZING database. I was at lunch in LA this week and happened to sit next to a young guy who turns out to be a Broadway composer (I'm trying to be discrete here) and we were discussing BWW and the amazing threads on this site. I was saying I simply love coming here once or twice a day because I learn so much. Hell, I even looked HIM up when I got home and within minutes had articles, anecdotes and photographs.
I hope you folks know how much this site is a Shining Moment.....
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699
elmore3003
Leading Actor Joined: 3/31/04
#222re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 9:55am
Frontrowcentre2 wrote:
"Both songs were back in the show for the 1964 London production, and Take Me To the Fair made it into the movie."
The 1964 London production cut "I Loved You Once In Silence" as well as a vocal section of "The Lusty Month of May" and used all new dance music arranged by Trude Rittman. The 1980 production with Burton, who was frail and had a useless arm so he looked like Richard III playing Arthur, cut sections of "Fie On Goodness," so it was no longer complete.
Last night's dreadful broadcast cut about half of "The Persuasion" and all of "The Jousts."
It's too bad that someone like John Yap has never recorded a complete CAMELOT; as an appendix, he could record the London variants as well as the 1960 Toronto-cut "The Quest"; I believe the scores are in archive at Tams-Witmark.
michaela
Swing Joined: 10/4/06
#223re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 9:59am
Maureen's Camelot synopsis:
Camelot is the epic tale of adorable Wort, and unassuming squire who grows up to meet his bride and prematurely become king at the age of fifty. Gueneviere, his queen, unable to find a plastic surgeon in medieval England, turns to plucking
daisies in a desperate struggle to retain her youth. When at last the knights of the round table brush off her flirtations Gueneviere nearly turns her affections to her husband. Finally the kingdom welcomes the gullible young seminarian, Lancelot. Convincing Lance he must avoid the scandal of coming out
in Camelot, the manipulative Jenny passes him off as her boy toy. Chaos ensues until at last the selfish cougar gets her come-uppance when she herself is banished to the convent, leaving Lance to start afresh with the stable hand and armor designer, and join Dinadan on a quest. In his retirement the king, inspired by Jimmy Carter, builds a new table and household of furniture.
Dolly_Levi
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/8/04
#224re: Live From Lincoln Center: Camelot, airs this Thursday on PBS
Posted: 5/9/08 at 10:07am
"Mordred and the Angry Inch."
Too funny, when my roommate came home late that is just how I described Steggert's Modred, looking as if he was in a prodution of "Hedwig."
Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward.
Carol Channing
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