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THEATER Camelot Theatre puts Simon & Garfunkel in the limelight Comment By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 11, 2016 at 10:00 AM By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 11, 2016 at 10:00 AM » Social News With Paul Simon's poetic rock lyrics and Art Garfunkel's intuitive vocals, folk duo Simon & Garfunkel created a catchy, crystalline sound that resonated with '60s and '70s audiences. By Jan. 1, 1966, the duo's swan song, "Sounds of Silence," topped Billboard's Hot 100 and sold more than a million copies. One week later, the single "Homeward Bound" charted among the top 10 on music charts worldwide, followed by "I Am a Rock," peaking at No. 3. "It's a sound that is legendary and inimitable," says singer Erik Connolly, who joins vocalist David King-Gabriel in Camelot Theatre's musical tribute to the two talented musicians who hail from the Queens borough of New York City. Like Bob Dylan, The Beatles and others who also ranked high on the international charts, Simon & Garfunkel's particular creativity made the duo's music distinctive. Camelot's musical spotlight features a script by Mail Tribune city editor Catherine Noah and musical direction and arrangements by Don Harriss. Presila Quinby directs. Audiences can look for a little biography and a lot of the duo's unforgettable songs, including "Sounds of Silence," "I Am a Rock," "Mrs. Robinson," "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" and more. "We're not taking on the roles of Paul Simon or Art Garfunkel as much as we are just presenting their music," Connolly says. "David is singing the lion's share of the harmonies, which was definitely Garfunkel's role. He was the harmonizer. David's voice lends itself to that higher range, but he's not impersonating Garfunkel. The harmonies fly pretty high, and David fits there nicely. "It's what works for our voices. Mine is more like a lower tenor, while David is a bit more comfortable with those higher ranges for extended periods of time. It's a very natural thing for him to do. That's why I'm singing most of the melodies in the duets." Performances are set for 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, Jan. 14-16 and Jan. 21-23, and 2 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 17 and 24, at Camelot Theatre, 101 Talent Ave., Talent. Tickets are $22 for the Jan. 14 preview; $26 for all others, and can be purchased online at www.camelottheatre.org , by calling 541-535-5250 or at the box office. The box office is open from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and one hour before curtain. Reserved seating is available for an additional $2 per ticket. Noah's script points to the fact that Simon was the lyricist and songwriter of the two singers. "People might think Simon and Garfunkel collaborated on songs, because that's what they told people early on, but that's not really true," Noah says. "Garfunkel soon discovered songwriting really wasn't his talent, though he later turned to poetry. Paul wrote nearly all their material. In fact, he got resentful that Artie was getting all the attention over 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' which he sang alone with a piano on the stage to thunderous applause. Paul would think, 'That's my song, thank you very much. I wrote that.' "Artie's clear, angelic voice made the Simon & Garfunkel sound. He's a perfectionist, so he'd work really hard on getting the harmonies just right. And when they weren't right, he'd be upset. When they walked offstage after their triumphant reunion concert in Central Park, which drew a half-million people, Paul asked Artie how he thought it went. 'Disaster,' Artie said." Connolly plays guitar on the opening number, "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)." He learned to play guitar from Simon & Garfunkel's and The Beatles' songbooks. "It's also what got me into singing," he says. "I loved the music, and Paul Simon had just released his 'Graceland' album. I'd played guitar for a few years, and my musical tastes were changing from hard rock to things more folksy. I started singing along and taking voice lessons. That sparked my interest in musical theater. It quickly led me to audition for musicals at my high school." Jef Fretwell will perform as lead guitarist for the show, along with Harriss on keys, Steve Fain on bass and Steve Sutfin on percussion. Connolly says he's looking forward to performing the "real chestnuts" of Simon & Garfunkel hits, such as "The Boxer" and "Mrs. Robinson," along with such lesser-known songs as "My Little Town," "Old Friends" and more. Look for songs from Simon's '70s solo material: "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "Kodachrome," and a mini medley of songs from "Graceland" featuring "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes." A beautiful ballad, "All I Know," from Garfunkel's solo career, also will be presented. Renee Hewitt narrates the story, set design is by Don Zastoupil, lighting is by Jenelle Ragsdale, and sound and video are by Brian O'Connor. By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 11, 2016 at 10:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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