Camelot he road to Camelot was rocky. view. She famously said, “Of course, Truscott and lighting by Richard Pil - Adapted from T.H. White’s The darling, but do try to get it to me the brow. The show ran 518 perform - TOnce And Future King , Alan Jay night before.” After two previews (yes, ances. Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s musi - you read that right – it was a very dif - cal version was one of the most ferent Broadway then), the show Since then, Camelot has been turned highly anticipated shows imaginable. opened on December 3rd at the Ma - into a film (starring Richard Harris After all, their previous show had jestic Theatre, and the reviews were and Vanessa Redgrave), has had been one of the biggest Broadway mixed. Hart got out of the hospital many revivals (with Richard Burton, success stories in history – the huge and he and Lerner made further Richard Harris, and Robert Goulet all smash hit My Fair Lady . And they’d changes to the show. But any danger taking turns at Arthur), including a re - had the big success of Gigi on the the mixed reviews caused was allevi - cent tour with Michael York, Rachel screen. Add to that a stunning cast of ated by an appearance on The Ed York, and James Barbour. And the Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, Sullivan Show , where an entire seg - televised concert with the New York Roddy McDowell, and Robert Goulet ment was devoted to the show, caus - Philharmonic, which starred Gabriel making his Broadway debut. Then ing the advance sale to zoom up Byrne, Marin Mazzie, Nathan Gunn, Moss Hart as director, Oliver Smith even higher. It went on to win four Christopher Lloyd, and Marc Kudisch. for sets, costumes by Adrian (who Tony Awards – Best Actor in a Musi - died before the show went into re - cal (Richard Burton), best sets What becomes clear in every revival hearsals) and Tony Duquette, and (Smith), best costumes (Adrian and or presentation of the show is that the with an advance sale that was the Tony Duquette), and best musical di - score by Lerner and Loewe is one of largest in musical theatre history, rection (Franz Allers). Columbia’s the most glorious in all musical the - well, what could possibly go wrong? cast album was the top-selling LP for ater. Whatever deficiencies the book sixty weeks. The show had a healthy may or may not have, the score just For starters, Lerner’s then wife left run of 873 performances. overpowers them – and, of course, him, causing medical problems for the story itself is just powerful. Lerner and a delay for the production. After it closed, there was a national At the show’s tryout at the O’Keefe tour starring William Squire (who’d re - The London cast album is a treasure. Centre in Toronto, the first perform - placed Burton on Broadway) and It feels quite different than its Broad - ance lasted well over four hours. Kathryn Grayson. That was followed way counterpart and includes “The Lerner apparently quipped “Only Tris - by a bus-and-truck tour starring Biff Jousts” that wasn’t on the original tan and Isolde equaled it as a blad - McGuire and Jeannie Carson. Then, Broadway cast album. Harvey is a der endurance contest.” The reviews in 1964, yet another tour happened, great King Arthur, and Larner is a were encouraging but noted the show this time starring Howard Keel and wonderful Guenevere. Their per - still needed a lot of work if it was Constance Towers. Also in 1964, the formances are reason enough to going to be a success. Then director show made its London debut. cherish the London recording, but the Hart had a heart attack and Lerner whole thing has a vibrancy and took over the direction. Loewe was Opening at the Theatre Royal, Drury sheen that is terrific, and that score – not thrilled at making changes with - Lane on August 19th, producer Jack one great song after another – I think out Hart’s input, but eventually the Hylton’s production of Camelot it’s safe to use the old saw that they show came into Boston an hour-and- sported a stellar cast, including film don’t write ‘em like this anymore. a-half shorter. By Lerner’s account, star Laurence Harvey as Arthur, Eliz - Richard Burton was a prince as well abeth Larner as Guenevere and The CD was mastered from the orig - as a King regarding all the cuts and Barry Kent as Lancelot. Critic Harold inal tapes from the EMI vaults in the changes, and, according to Lerner, Hobson said of Harvey’s Arthur, “I UK. he calmed the fears of the cast. count this performance as amongst the big theatrical experiences of my — Bruce Kimmel In New York, Julie Andrews was told life.” The production was directed and she was getting a new song, “Before choreographed by Robert Helpmann, I Gaze AtYou Again,” for the first pre - with scenery and costumes by John