The Theater: New Musical on Broadway, Dec. 19, 1960

Camelot (book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner; music by Frederick Loewe; based on The Once and Future King by T. H. White) could scarcely fail to suffer from its huge pre-Broadway buildup, its reported $3,000.000 advance sale and, above all, the comparison with its Lerner-Loewe predecessor, My Fair Lady. But Camelot suffers from something more than ballyhoo; its real trouble is not its failing to live up to extravagant expectations but its not living up to itself.

The show—after a sprightly start—skitters irresolutely about in a diversity of moods on a variety of...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!