CAMELOT Music by Frederick Loewe; Libretto and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner; (based on "The Once And Future King" by Majestic Theatre, New York - December 3, 1960 (873 perfs) Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London - August 19, 1964 (518 perfs) THE STORY (5th century Britain) Guenevere journeys to Camelot to become Arthur's Queen. The entire court, apart from Arthur whom she has never met, comes to greet her. Nervous and shy, he is hiding in nearby woods. Presently, he is joined by Guenevere who has slipped away from the ceremony of welcome. They are soon charmed by each other and go forth happily to the wedding. Arthur's tutor, the magician Merlin, is lured away but not before he has inspired Arthur to favour the establishment of peace and brotherhood. The fame of Arthur's Order of the Round Table brings the cream of Europe's knighthood to Camelot. No knight is more renowned than Lancelot du Lac, although the Queen and courtiers think the young Frenchman's reputation must be inflated. She encourages three knights to challenge him in the lists. Lancelot quickly defeats all three knights in the jousting match and the Queen becomes attracted to him and he finds himself in love with her. Torn between this love and his devotion to Arthur, he asks permission to leave Camelot for foreign conquests. Two years later he returns to be made a Knight of the Round Table and realises that he still loves Guenevere. Mordred, Arthur's illegitimate son, arrives at Camelot to dishonour the King in order to gain the throne. With the help of his sorceress aunt, Morgan le Fey, he traps Arthur in the forest. Then Mordred finds Lancelot in the Queen's Chambers, accuses him of treachery and imprisons him. Lancelot escapes but Guenevere is sentenced to burn. She is rescued by Lancelot at the last moment and he takes her off to France. Arthur must now wage war on France, even though he forgives Lancelot and Guenevere before the battle. As a final gesture of hope for the future, Arthur sends a young boy, Thomas Mallory, back to England with orders to tell another generation of Camelot's ideals. MUSICAL NUMBERS 1. I Wonder What The King Is Doing Tonight - Arthur 2. The Simple Joys of Maidenhood - Guenevere 3. Camelot - Arthur, Guenevere 4. Follow Me - Nimue 5. C'est Moi - Lancelot 6. The Lusty Month of May - Guenevere & Ensemble 7. Take Me To the Fair - Guenevere, Knights and Ensemble 8. How To Handle A Woman - Arthur 9. The Jousts - Arthur, Guenevere & Ensemble 10. Before I Gaze At You Again - Guenevere 11. Fie On Goodness - Knights, Male Ensemble 12. If Ever I Would Leave You - Lancelot
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