Music by Frederick Loewe
Libretto and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Based on "The Once And Future King" by T. H. White
On a wintry morning many years ago, the strains of a march sound out as King Arthur's court parades forth to greet the arrival of Guenevere, the King's bride. Everyone is on hand except Arthur himself, who is as nervous as any bridegroom. Guenevere is more romantically inclined but equally uncertain. She dodges the welcoming committee and hides. When she and Arthur meet unexpectedly, without recognizing each other, he outlines the pleasures of life at Camelot. Upon introducing themselves, they find themselves charmed, and go forth happily to the wedding.
The spirit of Nimue lures Arthur's tutor, the magician Merlyn, away from Camelot. But Arthur has learned the wisdom of peaceful ways from Merlyn, and brings tranquility and justice to his domain with the establishment of the celebrated Round Table. News of the Table even crosses to France, engaging the sympathies of young Lancelot, who arrives at Camelot proclaiming his intentions.
Arthur introduces Lancelot to Guenevere and the court at a castle outing. Lancelot is insufferable, and everyone, especially the Queen, takes an instant dislike to him. Guenevere goes so far as to make sport of him through her invitations to three Round Table knights. When the knights are challenged to joust with Lancelot, Guenevere permits them to wear her kerchief as a token of favor. The King tries to dissuade her from siding with the court against Lancelot, but she is adamant.
Lancelot is victorious in the jousts, and exhibits a strange power of purity and faith that gradually wins the respect of the court. His feelings toward Guenevere speedily develop into a deep but silent love, which wars with his great affection for Arthur. To ease his conflict of emotions, Lancelot asks Arthur's leave to depart on quests. Two years pass before Lancelot's return, when Arthur invests him with Knighthood of the Round Table. Lancelot reveals his love, but he and Guenevere still strive to conceal their situation from Arthur. Arthur, however, is aware of their feelings, but submerges his resentment to preserve peace in Camelot.
Arthur's illegitimate son, Mordred, arrives at Camelot and attempts to dishonor the King in order to ascend the throne in his place. Mordred loathes Arthur's dreams of peace with honor. Guenevere, still faithful to Arthur, tries to help him make light of royalty's burdens.
The Knights of the Round Table grow restless with perpetual peace and inaction. Through a ruse of Mordred's, Arthur is trapped in the enchanted forest of Morgan le Fey overnight while Lancelot visits Guenevere in her chambers, where she confesses her love. Mordred bursts into the room with a group of knights, accusing Guenevere of treason. Lancelot escapes, but she is arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake under the code of justice Arthur has worked so long to establish. At the last moment Lancelot rescues her and takes her to France, and Arthur is at last forced to make war on his friend. Just before the final battle, he meets them both, and generously forgives them.
Moments before the battle begins, Arthur discovers a young stowaway who aspires to join the Round Table. Arthur knights the boy in the field and sends him back to England, charging him, when he grows up, to tell another generation of the noble ideals of Camelot.
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| Every summer, the rehearsals/performances were marked at least once by The Bat's appearance (it was even mentioned in the program one year). The one I remember most was Camelot - during the dress rehearsal, we were all on stage with the curtain closed waiting for the overture when the bat showed up. The knights were screaming and waving their swords around, and the bat kept swooping lower and lower! Also, in the early/mid- 90's, I recall everyone playing Egyptian Ratscrew (a card game) backstage |
---Margaret Hall |
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