Britney Coleman is phenomenally outstanding as Guinevere in Bay Street’s Camelot. Both her voice and grasp of the role is mesmerizing. The show is a total winner. This Bay Street Theater outdoor production of Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot in Bridgehampton is a must see. Bay Street Artistic Director Scott Schwartz, who also directed this two act, two hour show (including intermission) is to be saluted on many levels. He has created a show that will be remembered and applauded fondly for years.
Chorographer Marcos Santana creates a flow of consistent fluid motion that adds to the music and songs. Terrific live music augments the singing and in an open air theater plays a huge part in the winning formula that makes this production of Camelot so special.
Jeremy Kushnier as King Arthur won over the audience with his first few lines. Anyone who had any memory of knowledge of Richard Burton’s portrayal of this role on Broadway had to be smiling watching Mr. Kushnier command the stage and the show. He is that good.
The dashing Deven Kolluri plays Lancelot, and does so with panache and grace. His voice soars and his movements and stage presence elevates the production.
In every show there usually is one actor whose skills and talent shine brightest in the show. In this production of Camelot it is Britney Coleman. She glides through the open outdoor stage gracefully; it is as if her feet are not touching the ground. Her voice is clear, powerful and tender. When she sings she captures both your soul and imagination. She has real star qualities that just cannot be taught.
Aaron Dalla Villa portraying Mordred has real strong scene stealing moments. He flashes and dashes about the stage, jumping, leaping, climbing and all the while singing as the villain the part of Mordred demands.
The rest of the supporting cast are a merry cast singing and gliding about the open air show adding just the right energy and soul when needed.
Kudos and accolades to Hope Hamilton, Amaya Grier, James Harkness, Kevin Wang, Cecilia Ticktin, Lopez Barisich, David Lamarr. They all truly earned the applause of the standing audience at the end of the production they received.
One can never attend a Bay Street production without mentioning Bay Street tech wizard Mike Billings and his touch of magic he brings to every Bay Street production he is involved with. Keith Green, member of the audience on the night I attended said, “It was amazing how the show started in daylight and moved on into the night, you can’t reproduce that in a theater.” Yet Mike Billings made it seem natural.
After viewing the show I can now definitely say Director Scott Schwartz was correct when he said , “This is the perfect show to come out of the times we’ve been through for the last fifteen months which has been so challenging. With so much upheaval both here and around the world … it (is) important to do a show about a time when someone, King Arthur, was trying to change the world and make might for right as opposed to might being right. This seems like a great time to tell this story.”
Safety protocols were in place and the audience (capacity of 200) were comfortable in their all-weather that are numbered. Camelot will be through August 29 with the show starts at 7:30 pm, except on Sundays. For detailed information on seating and location visit www.baystreet.org
