Review: CAMELOT at The John W. Engeman Theater

By: Michelle Nielsen

Lerner & Loewe’s magical tale of CAMELOT has been brought to life at The John W. Engeman Theater in Northport by Director Drew Humphrey*. A rarely performed show on Long Island, this production was worth waiting for! Humphrey, a veteran director, choreographer, and performer, created a masterpiece with this classic tale of love, loss, virtue, betrayal, and hope.

How do you convey all the grandeur of the Camelot castle and kingdom, account for the complications and intricacies of a musical that takes place indoors and outdoors, and must be equally appropriate for both intimate and public settings, all on one stage? You bring in scenic designer Kyle Dixon. Without revealing the magic, his layered and limitless set was detailed, beautiful, practical, and accomplished everything the musical demanded.

John Burkland’s stunning lighting design further enhanced Dixon’s set. Captivating jewel tones of sunsets, dusty tones of dawn, vibrant summer days, and more came together to create an emotionally fulfilling color story.

Several characters were not included in this production – Merlyn, King Pellinore, and Morgan Le Fay. With a shorter character list and a smaller cast, you may think the production might have been anemic or that the story would somehow fall short, but that was hardly the case. The musical numbers were robust, and the storyline remained intact. In fact, it often sounded like there were more performers than the cast list would imply, and the story maintained its continuity.

King Arthur (Montgomery Sutton*) spoke to Merlyn in monologues, which portrayed him as contemplative and introspective. Sutton’s strong tenor and affable demeanor made his Arthur one with whom we could easily relate. In the show’s eponymous song, “Camelot”, Sutton’s delivery was comedic, lighthearted, and full of admiration for the kingdom he had grown to love.

Liv Kurtz as Guenevere was spectacular! Her dulcet soprano was smooth and crystal clear. She was delicately humorous in “The Simple Joys of Maidenhood”, excitingly scandalous in “The Lusty Month of May”, and daringly manipulative in “Take Me To The Fair”. Kurtz made it easy to see how Guenevere had so many of the knights falling at her feet.

Alexander Ríos* was everything you expect in a Sir Lancelot du Lac. He was handsome and kind and guided by a strong moral compass. Even as Lancelot was revealed to be just as flawed as those around him, his strength and courage in the face of adversity were clear. Ríos’ rich baritone in “If Ever I Would Leave You” would make any queen swoon.

Mordred, played by James Kelley Carroll, was the perfect evil wrench in Arthur’s plan for Camelot. Carroll played up the charm and humor in “The Seven Deadly Virtues” as he convinced the otherwise loyal knights to turn away from Arthur’s vision of a Camelot governed by laws, facts, and honor.

Dinadan (John Alejandro Jeffords*), Sagramore (Riley Wesson), and Lionel (Christopher deProphetis*) were the definitive trio of tall, strong, and handsome knights. Their solos and harmonies were perfect in “Fie On Goodness” as each fell for Mordred’s manipulation.

King Arthur. His love was betrayed. His kingdom crumbled. His knights abandoned his vision. Yet, he still believed that what he had tried to accomplish in Camelot was not in vain. As long as the story was told, there would still be hope.

“Don't let it be forgotThat once there was a spotFor one brief shining moment that was knownAs Camelot.”

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association

Photo credit: Katie Mollison | The John W. Engeman Theater

CAMELOT. Playing now through 6/28