Does
having a crush on Michael York affect your objectivity?
By
Denise Gibbs
Contributing writer
Posted March 27, 2007
Photo: Craig Schwartz
At the tender
age of 65, film heartthrob legend, Michael York, is having a
three-week stay in Seattle in the national Broadway tour of
Camelot now playing at the historic 5th Ave.
Theatre until April 8. York best known for his roles as
D’Artagnan in the 1973 movie The Three Musketeers and in
1971 opposite Liza Minnelli in the Bob Fosse film version of
Cabaret, still has star power in his first ever North
American tour.
In a recent
Seattle Times article York said he grew up on stories
about Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
"It seemed
to me an appropriate time to revive this,” York said. “There's a
whole generation that hasn't seen it yet. And it portrays a
ruler who felt that violence was not strength and compassion was
not weakness.”
York
portrays a loving, gentle yet regal King Arthur who rules his
kingdom with justice and devotion. Though British born York may
not be the strongest singer and dancer, his version of Arthur
with his rich English accent and fair looks is very believable.
It even brings justification to the story when his beautiful
blossoming Queen Guenevere, magnificently played by Broadway
award winning performer, Rachel York (no relation), falls in
love with the much younger, tall dark and handsome Sir Lancelot,
winningly portrayed by Broadway pro, James Barbour.
Arthur’s
love for Lancelot seems to be a more fatherly love, as is his
love for Guenevere at times. Though young York seems to bring
out older York’s famous boyish qualities that we all fell in
love with over 30 years ago. York and York are a good pair on
stage and it still convincingly hurts when Guenevere lets her
young lustful girlish desires take over as she gives her heart
to Lancelot.
Rachel
York’s wonderfully strong soprano and charismatic acting equals
Barbour’s rich baritone and at times comedic Lancelot. The
strong supporting cast balances out the production along with
the rich scenery, lighting and costumes.
Lyricist
Alan Jay Lerner’s children, Liza and Michael, revamped the show
for this new tour.
“ We have
told this famous story in a new, very appealing and concise
way,” Liza Lerner said in the production notes. “Our new
production of Camelot is a lot grittier and a little
sexier.”
The story is
still intact and we still feel strongly towards Guenevere’s and
Lancelot’s betrayal of the kind yet older Arthur.
Different
from the original Broadway production, the most compelling and
exciting joust scene, Lancelot saving Guenevere from burning at
the stake and Merlin being taken away by Nimue are now shown on
stage rather than being sung by a chorus of the action taking
place offstage.
“The musical
is now much more visual,” Michael Lerner. “Much of the edginess
comes from our director Glenn Casale’s reinterpretation of some
of the action. This makes a much more poetic stage picture than
to just walk offstage as in past productions.”
Well worth
the ticket price of starting at $20, Camelot is a sight
to be seen and heard, as is York’s interpretation; and let’s not
forget how well he looks in tights, cape and a crown. Seeing the
production just might fan those adolescent flames once again of
your childhood crush on York. I know it did for me.
Camelot is
running through April 8 at
The 5th
Avenue Theatre
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2006 All content property of European Weekly unless where otherwise
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