Reader Reviews
Camelot (Open Air Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Get rid of Mark Shenton as a reviewer. He has too many attitude problems as displayed in his comments for the outdoor production of 'Camelot'. The musical, one of the best from Broadway, is faithfully recreated with a wonderful score/music/lyrics and the outdoor setting is perfect for this production.The songs and storyline of King Arthur, Guinivere, and Sir Lancelot flow with superb professionalism to relive albeit tongue in cheek, days of yore. For goodness sake give Mark Shenton his Harry Potter book and send him back to his bedroom. Yours truly, C.J.Ross. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (203.109.254.50) | 02 Sep 04 |
| A pretty dull evening, sad to say. That said, Lauren Ward was outstanding as Guenevere, Russ Abbot comedic as Pelinore (though a singalong rendition of hiis 80s hit Atmosphere might have whipped the audience up more!) and it didn't rain! Regents Park musicals are always hit and miss... last year's High Society was a hit... Camelot sadly missed the spot by miles. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.77.55.12) | 24 Aug 04 |
| The perfect summer's evening for the perfect venue but unfortunately not the perfect show. Firstly the performers were all excellent from the oustanding voice of Guinevere (Lauren Ward) to the charming Arthur (Daniel Flynn) and the injection of unabashed humour from Pelinore (Russ Abbott). However the show seems to lack any real sparkle and that's down to the rather dull and repetitive songs. Think of all the dull songs from My Fair Lady and that's what you've got. I can't remember one song - perhaps that's why we don't see this show performed very often. Still a lovely night out in the park. Thanks for organising "Whatsonstage"! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.255.64.9) | 09 Aug 04 |
| There' really not a lot I san say about this rot Cuz I care not a single jot Of what takes place in Camelot. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.43.172.145) | 07 Aug 04 |
| Mark Shenton's review is honest, tough and tells it like it is. The Park is a wonderful theatre that seems somehow to have become snagged in its own success, by 'having' to do a musical, and one that can be done outdoors with a smallish cast and a small band. My fourteen year old daughter found it really hard to sit through and was astonished to learn the material was by the creative team responsible for 'My Fair Lady'. Ian Talbot's production only has two gears: totally square (Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere) or pantomimic (everyone else). The whole things completely lacks a sense of irony, as though none of us has the imagination to work with the idea that the world has turned considerably since this sort of stuff was considered edgy. Russ does what he can and as always does it sublimely. What a great subject though for a piece of musical theatre...But why doesn't the Park, such a unique and magical space, take a risk for once and commission someone to write a show for it? - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.252.0.6) | 29 Jul 04 |
| The show is fantastic. Mark Shenton reveals himself as the sort of curmudgeon who would NOT respond to Peter Pan's plea, "Clap your hands if you believe in fairies". Structurally brilliant, with excellent character establishing songs. Snse of period, and mythic sense of foreboding (as Merlin loses his magic before telling Arthur of the awful future), sense of an age of romance dying off. Eerie parallels with Charles and Diana, as Guinevere sings "Shall a feud not begin for me? / Shall kith not kill their kin for me?" Ah - the Windsors and Spencers. Russ Abbot hilarious as King Pellinore; kudos to Daniel Flynn as Arthur, Lauren Ward as Guinever and Matt Rawle as Lancelot. Also the boy who plays Mordred (here funnily spelled Maudred). good all round. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.101.69.116) | 28 Jul 04 |
| I disagree with Mr. Shenton's review of Camelot. I think that it leaves out the strong voices of the cast, and the score also. Not perfect, but very good - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| Wow! this review page has certainly been active! Not one, nor five, but a fairly impressive 4 stars as far as i'm concerned for Camelot - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| Never before have I so desperately wanted do die, not only die, but die painfully dull, dull, dull, dull. Only managed to sit through it because thankfully I was a little tipsy! getting ridiculously drunk in the audience was the only way to enliven a rotting storyline that died and lyrics that were barely fit for playschool. I lost count of the number of times I looked to the heavens and cursed the Met Office for giving me false hopes of a cathartic shower. An utterly pointless waste of time and money for all involved, especially the audience. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.69.37.108) | 27 Jul 04 |
| those arrogant souls giving the play 5 stars seem to be at the core of the problem with british theatre. it has been turned into an elitist institution for those with an education. i went to the same school as many of our country's top criminals yet believe i am equally entitled to my opinion. give me spiderman 2 any day - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| I agree with those sentiments. Certainly, such spelling betrays a woeful lack of intellect, surely essential for any attempt at either art or literary criticism - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| Poor grammar there from this esteemed critic - there shoiuld be no comma following "perpertrator"... - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| One can only wonder whether the esteemed 'critic' responsible for a mis-spelling of "perpetrator", should perhaps seek an alternative vocation, and leave the business of judgment to those who can spell. Commendable effort, to the producers of 'CAMELOT' - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| I have to agree, I found the play most entertaining. I can thoroughly recommend it for an evening out, especially given the beauty of surrounding Regents Park to add to the atmosphere - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| The purportrators of this crime ("Camelot") shall be found and punished - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| My friends and I enjoyed the production immensely: well done to all of the cast - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| I have to admit, I saw Camelot on Saturday, and was most impressed by the effor that all the cast went to. Long live the King! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| True, the open air format is a novelty - but frankly, watching paint dry outdoors would be more fun... - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.170) | 27 Jul 04 |
| Funnily enough, Mr Shenton, perhaps the material in Camelot is what one might call 'dated'. After all, it is a period piece about old English folklore! The director ought to brush aside such undeserved criticism like the rubbish that it is. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| Camelot provides a well-acted play, and a novelty too, given the open-air format. The actors (Sir Lancelot) in particular, should be praised for their efforts in producing such a good play given such modest resources. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| Makes for a great night out - just hope for the sake of the production that it doesn't rain! Well done to Guinevere for having such a strong voice! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| Daniel Flynn and Matt Rawle are impressive protagonists in the Open Air production of Camelot. One wonders if it is not that embittered critic Mr. Shenton, who should be reviewed, after his damaging (and dare I say, unjust) comments - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.170) | 27 Jul 04 |
| Brilliant, absolutely brilliant period piece - compelling, enthralling, almost enchanting. One cannot commend Camelot enough! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.170) | 27 Jul 04 |
| overacted, overhyped, overdone. hopefully it will just simply be over one day - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.170) | 27 Jul 04 |
| The show: fine, good in fact. The seats: not so fine - but the OAT is still worth a visit - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.171.106.169) | 27 Jul 04 |
| Apart from Russ Abboott enlivening the piece, the Open Air falls into its usual safety net of pleasing Middle England. I'm afraid I will have to forgo on their musicals until they return to vibrant pieces such as Kiss Me Kate. I expect more from an experienced director such as Ian Talbot. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.156.43.150) | 27 Jul 04 |
| I have to agree that it is not a patrticularly good musical, but you have to give credit to the OAT for a show which looks great and is performed with as much aplomb as the material will allow. It's a worthy revival of an important part of musical theatre history. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (172.190.95.203) | 26 Jul 04 |
| I clicked on the CAMELOT review with the expectation of getting some indication of the quality of the production. By the time I had read the first few sentences I quessed the name of the critic, and sure enough, scanning down I find Mr. Shenton, predictably, has written the review. WOS would be better served in sending a critic that is receptive to the material being revived rather than one who's taste dictates that he may as well have stayed at home and written a hostile critique on the libretto - all we learn from this "review" is that Mark Shenton thinks the material is dated! How original that is! From his past reviews I could have sayed him the trip to Regents Park! Spare us from the dismissive, ungenerous pronouncements of this literary critic who seems preoccupied with the "radicle" and fails to recognise that his audience on this site is sufficiently informed to know what a period piece CAMELOT is, but want to know the quality of the revival, and if it is worth seeing. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.187.227.186) | 26 Jul 04 |
| Why the hell do you employ Shenton,he must be a right miserable git if he didnt enjoy this wonderful musical performed by a great cast in a wonderful setting! He does WOS no favours with his mean spirited reviews and the question has to be asked what does he like? Not sure after his review the WOS crowd will dare turn up for the group outing!! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (152.163.253.103) | 26 Jul 04 |
| Saw Camelot at the matinee today and really enjoyed it and only a few spots of rain in act 2!!. The stage is the round table and is quite impressive as are all the costumes,the orchestra is quite small but pretty good i thought. Daniel Flynn was a very good Arthur I thought and Matt Rawle a very strong voiced Lancelot and Russ Abott doing what he does best playing the fool,but it was Lauren Ward and her amazing voice that stole the show as Guinevre and the score I think is very good,I must say I enjoyed Act 1 most which was 90 mins long and the whole show about 2 hours 40 mins,but well worth seeing in my humble opinion! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (205.188.117.22) | 24 Jul 04 |
