REVIEW: STUDIO TENN DELIVERS SLEEK , YET VIBRANT ‘CAMELOT’

It’s been more than 60 years since Lerner and Loewe’s classic musical Camelot first premiered on Broadway. But thanks to Studio Tenn’s sleek, smart and eminently engaging production – on stage through May 15 – audiences have a whole new way to experience an old favorite.

Based on T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, the action still centers on the tragic love triangle involving an idealistic King Arthur, his queen Guinevere and the gallant Lancelot. And fans certainly will recognize familiar songs, such as “If Ever I Would Leave You,” “C’est Moi,” “The Simple Joys of Maidenhood” and, of course, the title song, “Camelot.” But David Lee’s streamlined adaptation (which opened at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2010) strips away much of the pageantry of the past, along with a number of supporting characters – including the mysterious Merlin and the loyal Pellinore. It’s an interesting choice, and one that pays off with focused, yet highly theatrical storytelling and a refreshingly crisp pace.