Camelot

England, sometime in the ancient, mythical past.  King Arthur is about to be married to Guenevere, a French princess, though he's getting jittery as the big day approaches ("I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight").  Guenevere is also nervous, so nervous that she runs off ("The Simple Joys of Maidenhood").  While in hiding, she runs into Arthur, who is also disguised, and he tries to reassure her ("Camelot").  Arthur's mentor Merlin is seduced and led away ("Follow Me"), leaving him alone.  Meanwhile, the round table is being established, and one of the gallant young knights who comes is a Frenchman, Lancelot du Lac, who likes to sing his own praises-literally ("C'est Moi").  The round table members have a gathering to get to know each other ("The Lusty Month of May"), where Guenevere gets everyone else to hate Lancelot ("Then You May Take Me To the Fair").  Poor Arthur has no idea what to do with her ("How to Handle a Woman").  Lancelot reveals himself to be as wonderful as he thinks he is, and since he and Guenevere are falling in love, he goes off on a quest ("Before I Gaze At You Again").  When he gets back, they confess their love for each other, or at least Lancelot does ("If Ever I Would Leave You").  For no particular reason, Arthur's illegitimate son Mordred now shows up to cause trouble ("The Seven Deadly Virtues").  Guenevere tries to cheer Arthur up ("What Do the Simple Folk Do?"), but things don't look good, since the knights are getting restless ("Fie on Goodness").  Then Arthur leaves and Guenevere and Lanclot have an affair ("I Loved You Once in Silence").  When they get caught, Lancelot escapes while Guenevere, for reasons, unknown to me, is sentenced by the laws of Camelot to be burned alive (typical).  Lancelot then returns to save her (less typical) ("Guenevere").  This sets up Arthur to fight against both Mordred and Lancelot, and the play ends in anticipation of the battle to come, with Arthur reflecting on what he very nearly achieved ("Camelot" reprise).

courtesy of the Broadway soundtrack liner notes-I've never actually seen Camelot, so this is all I know.

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