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Camelittle
Sep. 28th, 2007 09:25 amThe Broadway San Diego juggernaut dragged brought the Lerner and Loewe warhorse of Camelot into town this week. Watching the show last night, I was reminded of the Broadway of yesteryear. No rising chandeliers, no helicopters dropping onto the stage, just simple sets featuring strong performances by legendary performers. Songs were 'hummable' on the way home. The original 1960's production with Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, and Robert Goulet in the lead roles of King Arthur, Guenevere, and Lancelot must have thrown the audience back in their seats.
Such was not the case last night. Lou Diamond Phillips in the Arthur role demonstrated that he's a better actor than singer (even in this role in which some songs are spoken as much as sung). I don't mean to imply that he'd make you forget Burton's acting but he was credible. Rachel de Benedet as Guenevere sang strongly but didn't seem to 'own' the part. Standout for me was Matt Bogart as Lancelot. He belted out his songs, overacted as this role demands, got some of the strongest applause (more than Phillips it seemed).
Overall, the evening was somewhat lackluster. The audience was polite but uninvolved. The San Diego Civic Theater's acoustics did a marvelous job as an echo chamber. Most surprising for me were the obvious flubs. The orchestra hiccuped during the overture and now and again throughout the show. de Benedet had to catch herself before singing the wrong words several times. Speaking of the latter, I kept trying to think of a musical in which her vocal talents would be better suited. She'd be great as the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, could have also done well as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. As to Phillips, all I'll say is that I heard several people humming La Bamba as they left the theater.
Such was not the case last night. Lou Diamond Phillips in the Arthur role demonstrated that he's a better actor than singer (even in this role in which some songs are spoken as much as sung). I don't mean to imply that he'd make you forget Burton's acting but he was credible. Rachel de Benedet as Guenevere sang strongly but didn't seem to 'own' the part. Standout for me was Matt Bogart as Lancelot. He belted out his songs, overacted as this role demands, got some of the strongest applause (more than Phillips it seemed).
Overall, the evening was somewhat lackluster. The audience was polite but uninvolved. The San Diego Civic Theater's acoustics did a marvelous job as an echo chamber. Most surprising for me were the obvious flubs. The orchestra hiccuped during the overture and now and again throughout the show. de Benedet had to catch herself before singing the wrong words several times. Speaking of the latter, I kept trying to think of a musical in which her vocal talents would be better suited. She'd be great as the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, could have also done well as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. As to Phillips, all I'll say is that I heard several people humming La Bamba as they left the theater.
