HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-07-16, Page 22ntertainment
Theatre review
‘Camelot’ shines
Friends and lovers
Though King Arthur, centre, portrayed by Tom McCamus
is becoming suspicious about his good friend Lancelot
(Dan R. Chameroy) and the queen, Guenevere (Cynthia
Dale) he trusts in their loyalty. Lerner and Loewe's
Camelot is now appearing at Stratford Festival.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
Don't let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment
that was known as Camelot
For more than one brief moment
the Stratford Festival's production
of Alan Jay Lemer and Frederick
Loewe's Camelot shines. With a
magnificent cast, stunning cos
tumes, choreography and sets this
musical is an absolute delight.
One hates to gush, but superla
tives seemed to be the only thing
that came to mind as this medieval
tale of love and woe played out.
Camelot is a story of dreams and
their demise. It tells of one man's
vision, his unfailing love even in
the face of betrayal. Camelot with
its idealistic King Arthur has been
likened to the Kennedy years in the
White House. An era ends sadly,
the promise of a better tomorrow
with it.
At its beginning, a somewhat
insecure King Arthur meets his
Guenevere, whom he not only
loves deeply, but who inspires him.
Buck Doe
for
DONNA GORDON
RICHARD &PEACHEY
July 19/97
Monkton Arena
Age of Majority
Bus leaves Brussels 8:45,
Blyth 9:00 & Walton 9:15
Call 887-9567 - Maddy
or 523-9294 - Andrea
Together they rule the magical
Camelot.
Arthur befriends Lancelot, a
knight, who comes to join the
king's new order of chivalry. While
Lancelot's friendship and devotion
to Arthur deepens so does his love
for Guenevere.
Theatre Artistic Director Richard
Monette skillfully directs highlight
ing every comic possibility while
deftly underlining the drama and
tragedy.
Tom McCamus demonstrates his
considerable talent bringing to life
an Arthur who is, naive, but no
fool. From the young man who
bemusedly ponders marriage, to the
groom who accepts his wife as
partner and confidante, McCamus's
Arthur matures subtley, but surely.
In the final scene where he recog
nizes his dream has ended, but
enlists a young man's promise to
keep it alive, McCamus gives
Arthur a dignity that is far removed
from that hopeful leader, but recog
nizable as him.
Love the family
When asked to audition for the
role, McCamus said he was not a
singer. However, not only does he
do the job admirably, but the sim
plicity of his voice, complements
the ingenuous sincerity of Arthur.
Conversely, the skilled resonating
timbre of Dan R. Chameroy is per
fect as the confident Lancelot.
Chameroy is a dashing blond
who also shows versatility, being
first the bold, impulsive warrior,
then the humbled, restrained lover.
While the two men are too com
manding to ever be upstaged, it is
likely that it is the presence of Cyn
thia Dale that has garnered the most
attention. Most recently a regular
on the now defunct CBC series
Street Legal, Dale has had exten
sive background in musical theatre.
It was a shame that fans of the
show were not treated to a weekly
offering of her lovely voice.
The remaining cast members
hold their own against these mega
talents, particularly Richard
Cumock as the befuddled Pellinore
and Michael Therriault, whose
Mordred is nasty in the extreme. It
was difficult at curtain call to forget
those past sins were an act and not
withhold acknowledgment for the
ability it takes to bring such a
despicable chap to life.
The lovely Lerner and Loewe
score, though not as familiar as
some of their others, is enhanced
by colourful costume and impres
sive set designs, created by Andrea
Grainger and Douglas Paraschuk
respectively.
Michael Lichtefeld's choreogra
phy adds much to the production. A
particular highlight was the knights'
rousing Fie on Goodness, a testos
terone inspired show of agility and
boisterousness.
Stratford gained reknown as a
Shakespearean festival. But with
the strength of its musicals in
recent years its reputation may be
changing. Either way this Camelot
is unlikely to be forgot.
Find the typos
The Blyth Festival is looking for
the silliest, funniest, most
outrageous newspaper mistakes,
typos, or spelling errors you have
ever read. Send 'em in and win a
prize!
The idea for this contest comes
Continued on page 24
■ | SURROUND SOUND STEREO 11
CAPITOZ,
KEBn\'IN CINEN 1A "
LISTOWEL 291-3070
STARTS FRIDAY
CINEMA 1 (PG Frightening
7 & 9 pm Scene,)
Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones
MEN IN BLACK
SUNDAY MATINEE 2 PM
CINEMA 2 (Fimily)
7 & 9pm
Held over 4th Big Week
WALT DISNEY’S
HERCULES
SUNDAY MATINEE 2 PM
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 16,1997 PAGE 23.
Comedy premiers in Blyth
There's Nothing in the Paper, a
comedy premiering at the Blyth
Festival July 23 is the first play
ever written by David Scott.
Scott, editor of the weekly Huron
Expositor in nearby Seaforth, says
with the big fish of the newspaper
industry swallowing up the little
papers, it is important for small
communities to have an avenue to
express and maintain their
identities. His play explores this
theme through George Slew art, the
disillusioned editor of the
struggling Shadowville Examiner,
as he comes up against a brash new
scandal sheet in his town that
threatens to destroy reputations and
divide the community.
Blyth Festival veteran Jerry
Franken takes on the role of George
Stewart. This is Jerry's 10th season
at the Festival. Audiences will
remember him most recently from
STAG DOE
Sean Fellow
&
Sara Lyons
FRIDAY, JULY 10/97
3 PM - 1 AM
Goderich Arena
Music by Goodfellas
Lunch Provided
Age of Majority
FOR TICKETS CALL
524-2406 OR 523-9533
Come Celebrate
JULY19TH
Ella Graber’s family
Invites you to 800
Turnberry St., Brussels
for afternoon
refreshments.
Join us In celebrating
her birthday.
Jake's Place, Ballad for a Rum
Runner's Daughter and He Won't
Come in from the Barn in 1995. He
is also appearing as Zepp
Brubacher in this year's Festival
production of Quiet in the Land.
The cast also includes Sharon
Bakker as newspaper office
manager Nellie, Beverley Elliott as
waitress Brenda, Brian Pauli as
bold newcomer Bdb, Kirsten Van
Ritzen as ad salesperson Joan, and
Dick Murphy and Vernon
Chapman as Sam and Hank, two
hilarious old cronies who count
mistakes in the paper, complain
about its decline and recommend
exciting news items - like the
peaceful death of an old dog.
Directing There's Nothing in the
Paper is Terry Tweed, who
directed This Year, Next Year for
Continued on page 24
WILLI AMS-WIENS
David and Lynda Williams are
pleased to announce the
engagement of their daughter,
Angie Lee to John Ray Wiens,
son of John and Peggy Wiens.
The wedding will take place
on July 26, 1997 at 2:00 p.m
at Knox Presbyerian Church.
Cranbrook, Ontario
Happy 25th
Wedding Anniversary
Fred & Karen
on July 22
Ann - Darrell
Dad - Mother