How I met the queen of Camelot

How I met the queen of Camelot

Venessa Redgraves picture taken during the filming of Camelot in 1969. From the page of the Theater Book with Vanessa’s signature. Also in the picture is Jeremy Brett, also on the play Design for Living at Phoenix Theater in London’s West End.

By Joel Recla

CAMELOT  is a story of the marriage of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere.  The King gathers the noble Knights of the realm to his round table.  The dashing and stalwart Lancelot joins.  But soon finds himself enraptured by the lovely Guinevere.  When Arthur’s illegitimate son, Modred reappears in the kingdom and outs the secret lovers.  Arthur finds himself trapped by his own rules into taking action against his wife and closest friend.

Richard Burton did the live stage version of Camelot on Broadway with Julie Andrews.   I saw the 1983 Camelot at O’Keefe Centre in Toronto. Newspapers revealed that one arm of Mr. Burton’s was immobile, I could tell, during the performance. He was not well during the entire performance due to his illness.  He died August 1984 in Switzerland, in less than a year after the Toronto shows.  In 1960 Richard Burton received the Broadway’s Tony Award for Camelot.  A Welch theatre and film actor, once married twice to the legendary actress, Miss Elizabeth Taylor. In the movie version, the King was played by Richard Harris.  Lancelot was played by Italian actor, Franco Nero.  Mordred was David Hemmings.  Directed by Joshua Logan and Fredrick Loewe, both creator of My Fair Lady and Camelot, which broke every exciting record for endurance and excellence unanimously hailed as both finest musicals of our time.  And the Queen was played by Miss Vanessa Redgrave.

VANESSA REDGRAVE was born January 30, 1937 in London, England  from a noble Redgrave English acting dynasty.  The daughter of Sir Michael Redgrave and Lady Rachel Kempson.  Five generations of writers of plays and books.  All worked in theatres, films, and television. Vanessa Redgrave is an actor of stage, screen, and television.  And a Political Activist.  She supported the Palestinian Liberation Organization.  She claims she will continue to fight against anti Semitism and fascism.  Her credit: 80 movies and more than 35 productions in London’s West End.  Vanessa received an Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Oliver, Cannes and the Golden Globe awards.  In 1995 she was elected to served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.  In 1999 she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and declined the damehood. “The greatest living Actress of our time” said author Arthur Miller.  Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero worked together in 1969, and reunited in 2006 and got married. Her Lancelot both in the movie and in real life, twenty seven years after.  They have a son Carlo Nero, a film director. In 2010 her daughter Natasha Richardson died in a skiing accident, her brother actor Corin Redgrave.  Her sister,  actress Lynn Redgrave also died all within fourteen months.
Forty-two years ago and still vivid in my mind.  The excitement that had transpired in my life.  I lived and worked in England for only ten months.  I used to walk  for ten minutes from my residence at Leinster Gardens to St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London.

The cover page of the Theatre Book, given to me by Vanessa Redgrave.

Heroin was discovered in 1874 and Penicillin in 1928  by Alexander Flaming, in the 200 years old, St. Mary’s Hospital.  Notable people were born in same hospital like Elvis Costello,  the English Musician;  Kiefer Sutherland, the Canadian actor, and the Princes  William, Harry, George and Princess Charlotte and other members of the Royal Family.  One day, going home after work, a patient asked me to buy him his favourite cookies from the down the street deli store at  Praed St.  as a  favour on my way home.  The gentleman was so grateful and invited me to see him, on a live play,  at the theatre area of London West End, Charing Cross Road, the Broadway of London, that he was on.  I accepted the invitation. The following evening I was at the Phoenix Theatre.  The  play was Design for Living by Noel Coward.   Starring Jeremy Brett, known as Freddie Eynsford Hill, in the 1964 production of  My Fair Lady and, also the original Sherlock Holmes of the British Television Show.  This gentleman, the patient, (I don’t recall his name, and don’t remember, what he really looked like).  After the show, he escorted me to the back stage dressing room of the famous leading star of the play  and the motion  picture Camelot.  The versatile actress, and the beautiful,  the one and only, Miss. Vanessa Redgrave.

I was not expecting to be introduced to Vanessa.  This gentleman said “ Vanessa  this is my friend Joel Recla. She replied right away “ I have a daughter name Joely.”  Also an actress, she said.  I was so honoured.  She was so pleasant to talk to.  I informed her that I have seen Camelot a dozen times in Manila.  And I was captivated by the entire motion picture and had memorized all the narrative songs from overture to finale.  I told her I knew the lyrics and all the melodies, as a matter of fact, to the present day.  Vanessa said will full gusto, how much she wanted to see and go to Manila.  We talked and she handed me the Play Bill magazine, with her signature and gave me a kiss.

The memory and the signed (Theatre Book ) I kept to this minute.  I remember how excited I was, just like a little kid.  It took me a week to settle down, after telling friends, relatives and every one who would listen, what had happened to me.  I told the story a million times.  But scholars regard Camelot as being fictional.  A perfect romantic novel.  Jackie Kennedy was quoted once from a Life magazine interview.  She said: “There will be other great Presidents again, but never will be another Camelot.”

On the movie,  King Arthur sang the repeated passage in the song (reprise ) and Finale, as follows: “Yes boy, where once it never rained till after sundown.  By eight a.m. the morning fog had flown.  Don’t let it be forgot. For one bright shining moment that was known as Camelot.”

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Joel Recla is Producer/Radio Host, C.H.I.N. Radio and Television International.