SOUTH-WEST AREA

Trowbridge Amateur Operatic Society
“Camelot”
May 1999

Overall Production.

It was a bold and ambitious idea to perform this presentation in a reversed position with part if the audience sitting on the stage and most of the action on the Round Table, and it worked - in fact it worked very well indeed.

Entrances and exits were swift and well disciplined and with well controlled lighting the whole acting area was used to good advantage.

It was also well thought out to have the two higher levels of Tom’s bedroom and the "Royal Apartments" to balance each other.

Make-up was applied well and especially the dramatic characters of Merlyn, Nimue, Morgan Le Fey and the Furies.

Costumes were good and worn well by both men and women.

There were numerous good props and furniture all placed and taken off with ease. The clever set looked well constructed and was most effective.

The thirteen-piece orchestra produced a well balanced sound and under the confident baton of Helen Harris musicians and performers were held firmly together.

A few thoughts on individual performances:

Arthur
This part demands a good dramatic actor who can convey a youthful energy at the opening and develop into a strong willed mature personality at the end. This was achieved with apparent ease by Clive James who also looked very much the part throughout - congratulations.

Merlyn
A well established and maintained character. His final scene with Nimue was quite moving.

Guenevere
Delightful to look at, very pleasant singing voice, danced and moved well fidgeted rather a lot with her hair except on wearing a crown when she was really stunning.

Lancelot
Good clear voice and strong bearing but a few smiles would not gone amiss.

Pellinore
Good strong voice, timing, especially of punch lines was spot on. Established character from his first line and throughout endeared himself to the audience. A most impressive performance.

Mordred
Looked good, moved extremely well and even in repose conveyed an aura of danger. His "seven deadly virtues" was really powerful. Totally convincing from his first entrance to the end - for me this was a stunning performance .

Morgan Le Fey
What fine expressions. Uses eyes in a most frightening way. A small but dramatic role performed really well with super movements. Her costume was also very good.