| re: Response. | |
| Last Edit: lordofspeech 09:59 pm EDT 04/06/23 | |
| Posted by: lordofspeech 09:44 pm EDT 04/06/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Response. - lowwriter 11:09 am EDT 04/06/23 | |
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| SPOILERS ABOUT THE ORIGINAL STORYLINE CREATED BY LERNER: The joust parallels the Ascot Gavotte scene in MY FAIR LADY, for one thing. For another, it turns the plot on its head: Guenevere has merrily teased the 3 knights into challenging Lance. Her purpose is to humble him. Fine, and we expect the joust to be exciting. By staging it as an observed and reported narrative, Lerner and Hart were able to attenuate the suspense leading to the killing of the 3rd knight. (I think it was Lionel). So, when his corpse is carried mournfully onstage, Gwen sees the consequences of her vain gesture. A kind of murder. So, then, when Lance kneels and brings the knght back to life (out of his, Lance’s purity), she must be undone. And her heart is undone. So too is Arthur undone, for seeing Lance’s embodiment of grace, and for seeing Guenever shattered. The way it’s been changed by Sorkin takes away all the gravity of it, takes the possibility of miracle away, deprives us of recognizing how and for what Guenevere has become enthralled. Lance is not just a hunk. He’s all that she and Arthir envisioned for their RoundTable. Sorkin grounds it in the prosaic. Miracles and purity were part of the Arthur stories. Holy Grail, anyone? And then, yes, of course we should see Arthur’s face and Jen’s face when Lance is knighted. What they feel and know about what has irreversibly happened to their heretofore inviolate devotion should be all we need to watch. Turns the thrones around, for heaven’s sake! I’m sorry to grouse so much, but this is all so disrespectful. Of the author(s), i.e., Lerner, Hart, Loewe, et al. (The staging of the other major narrative ellipse, the choral song GUENEVERE, with what seem to be rewrites, does work.) |
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