Cache Theatre Company prepares for ‘Camelot’
Lerner and Loewe’s “Camelot” is the story of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, Lancelot and all the other knights of the round table which has been revived time and time again across the globe for various audiences. This time, “Camelot” is coming to The Ellen Eccles Theater with a performance by the Cache Valley Theater Group.
“It’s the classic story of King Arthur but it starts years after the pulling of the sword from the stone so I think it’s a story that I don’t feel a lot of younger generations know about, it was a huge musical in the 60s and there’s action and romance and comedy all throughout and most of all I think (our performance) is going to be very provocative and I think people are going to leave thinking,” said Tanner Benson, the director.
The actors and crew of “Camelot” have been working since the end of August to bring together a show that they hope will be exciting and new. The show will feature a live orchestra, custom made thrones and costumes, and at least one dog performing on stage. Jared Rounds, who plays Arthur in the show, said he is excited to perform for an audience.
“King Arthur is kind of the central figure of the show, it’s his ideals that kind of push everything forward and his story. It’s a dream role of mine,” he said. “I was in this show in middle school as one of the knights of the round table and I was like, this show is so good, I want to play King Arthur someday. So being able to play it has been a dream.”
Jefferey Olsen, the actor playing Lancelot, said even though this story has been around for centuries, it still remains popular because the story and its lessons are still relevant today.
“As much as we would like to think of this as back in the 60s or back in the 1200s or even further, this story has themes that are continually relevant to society,” he said. “Its themes are about how we interact with one another and how we balance ideology with society. It’s as relevant today as it ever has been in society and I think if people come they will walk away not only loving the characters and loving the story, and singing the songs, but they’ll walk away thinking.”
In addition to Rounds, Larsen and Olsen, the main cast is rounded out with Hyrum Hansen playing Mordred and Cary Youmans, who plays Merlyn. Benson said though this is his first time directing a stage production of this scale, he was confident taking the challenge.
Jason Rimando | The Utah Statesman The opening act of Camelot continues when King Arthur is hiding in a tree because he is nervous with his upcoming marriage. Then Merlin convinces him to come down and tells him to behave.
“The way that I look at directing is that the actors are what brings the show to life, so I really like to get into the minds of the characters very similar to the way an actor does which I think helps us communicate a lot better and be able to both exercise as much creative authorship as we can. I like to let them do their job and me do my job but that way I feel like we can both kind of combine our visions,” Benson said.
Cache Theater Company’s “Camelot” will be performing at the Ellen Eccles Theater Oct. 12, 13, 15, 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. with a 1:20 p.m. matinee on Oct. 20.
“Just come see it, don’t think of it as one of those old warhorse musicals that aren’t interesting anymore because it’s so full of relevant things that are happening today,” Rounds said. “I mean King Arthur’s ideals are something we need today with all that’s going on and the turmoil in the world.”
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