Here's What They Said About......

CAMELOT

Director: Peter Pennington
Choreographer: Sally Wild
Musical Director: John Crosdale

Manchester Music Award Nominations:
Alan Titley awarded "Best Actor" in his role as King Arthur
Manchester Music Award Nomination Urmston AOS for Best Musical
Manchester Music Award Nomination Jill Ratcliffe for Best Supporting Actress and Best All Round Performer in her role as Guinevere

Reproduced from the Noda Magazine

It took a Viennese and an American to musicalise the English legend of King Arthur and his Round Table. Camelot was based upon T.H.White's The Once and Future King, a then new version of the Arthurian legends. Chronologically, Camelot followed Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady, and originally ran for 873 performances.

This production was well thought out and made good use of the difficult stage scenery by Fredericks of Weston-Super-Mare, which was quite magical. The costumes were indeed spectacular and eye-catching. Without a King Arthur, you don't have a Camelot, and Urmston found an Arthur with all the emotional and acting skills to tell the story.

Alan Titley gave a most excellent performance: even his hand gestures were a joy to watch. All the supporting roles were well covered, but I must single out Jill Ratcliffe as Guenevere. She gave another stylish performance. Jill knew how to support her fellow actors and how to command a scene.

Chorus work underlined the hard work the society had put in. A very fine production. Congratulations to you all.


Reproduced from the Stretford and Urmston Messenger Thursday Novenber 2 1995

Sharp as Excalibur! New Operatic show really cuts it

Unlike most tales, Camelot, Lerner and Leowe's musical about King Arthur has a happy beginning. The ending is a different kettle of fish, although it does leave a ray of hope. Urmston Operatic Society bravely took on this less well known show but turned it into their advantage by making it one of their best productions yet when they presented it at Urmston Sports Centre last week. Alan Titley made a quite exceptional King Arthur - not only musically but as an actor slowly cultivating his character from naive foolto wise sovereign. His final soliloquy raised him to almost Shakesperean stature.

His rival, Lancelot (Lee Roberts) was a creditable knight. His French accent was an asset and his rendering of melodies like "If Ever I Would Leave You" sent me weak at the knees. Guenevere, a lovely lady with a conscience, was played by Jill Ratcliffe and there was good support from Gordon Harrison as Merlin. John Walker as jolly Pellini and young Lee Christian as the dreadful Mordred.

The ladies contribution was excellent too, as were the dancing girls. The special effects were original, particularly the use of the echo chamber when Merlin spoke. There were also some impressive backdrops, but why no round table? A glimpse of it at least would have been nice.

 

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