Uh oh.
“Camelot” is being revived by Lincoln Center for the fall on Broadway. Aaron Sorkin and Bartlett Sher ar reuniting from their hit version of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
When the duo took over “Mockingbird,” they killed off the existing version that has toured the US for years. Sorkin’s version was considered “new” and not a revival. Producer Scott Rudin made small theater companies cry.
Now they say this will be a “new version” of the classic tale by Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe. Does this mean King Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot will be played by children? Hand puppets? People plucked from the audience? Who knows?
The original famous 1960 version of “Camelot” was a follow up to Lerner & Loewe’s hit, “My Fair Lady.” The show starred Richard Burton as Arthur, Julie Andrews as Guenevere, and Robert Goulet as Lancelot. The production won four Tony Awards, including Best Actor for Burton. Goulet reprised the role in 1993 on Broadway. The musical became identified with the Kennedy presidency when Jackie O saw it and loved it.
The big hit song, of course, is “If Ever I Would Leave You.” Who will sing it next December? I’m kidding, but who knows? Perpetual Sorkin star Jeff Daniels? He has been known to sing, but let’s hope it’s Norm Lewis, who would do that song justice.
“Camelot” returns December 8th.
