Artus - Excalibur is a German-language musical based on Arthurian Legend, with music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Robin Lerner, and book by Ivan Menchell.
In 6th century Britain, rival kings Uther Pendragon and Loth of Orkney are waging a bloody war. When Uther is killed in battle, it looks as though no one will be able to resist Loth's tyranny. Then a young man named Artus pulls a sword from a stone. With the support of the people, the loyal Knights of the Round Table, the magician Merlin, and his beloved Queen Guinevere, it looks as though Artus is The Chosen One destined to bring peace to the war-torn island.
But Loth isn't about to just hand over power, and he's got an ally too: Artus' half-sister Morgana. Meanwhile, Artus' best friend Lancelot is also in love with Guinevere.
Artus - Excalibur premiered in 2014 in St. Gallen, Switzerland, starring Patrick Stanke as Artus, Annemieke van Dam as Guinevere, Mark Seibert as Lancelot, Thomas Borchert as Merlin, and Sabrina Weckerlin as Morgana. It can be found here on YouTube
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Artus - Excalibur contains examples of:
- Abusive Parents: In the backstory, Uther became this to Morgana after Artus' birth.
- Ambition Is Evil: Morgana. Artus invites her to live at court as his honoured sister. She's not interested in sharing the power she believes is rightfully hers.
- Childhood Friends: Artus says that he and Lancelot have been friends since before they could walk.
- Died in Your Arms Tonight: Ector and Lancelot both die in Artus' arms.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: Morgana's seduction of Merlin culminates in her taking his Magic Staff.
- Freudian Excuse: Morgana explains hers in "Sünden der Väter/Sins of the Fathers". Her father Uther turned against her when Artus was born (and taken away by Merlin).
- Grief Song: Artus gets two. "Vater und Sohn/Father and Son" as Ector is dying and "Das Feld der Ehre/The Field of Honour (reprise)" after Lancelot's death.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Lancelot to both Artus and Guinevere.
- Love at First Sight: Artus and Lancelot both fall in love with Guinevere at first sight. She reciprocates with Artus.
- Love Triangle: Artus and Lancelot are both in love with Guinevere. She's in love with Artus, but feels some attraction to Lancelot too.
- Missing Mom: Artus' mother Ygraine died in childbirth.
- My God, What Have I Done??: Lancelot and Guinevere after their Sex for Solace in "Alles ist vorbei/The End". Artus has one almost immediately afterwards.
- Only the Chosen May Wield: Many people try to pull Excalibur from the stone where Merlin left it. Only Artus succeeds.
- Refusal of the Call: Artus tries at first. Guinevere talks him into accepting in "Ein wahrer Held/A True Hero".
- Rescue Romance: Lancelot would like a romance with the woman he rescues from Loth's men. Pity, she's on her way to marry his best friend.
- Revenge: Artus wants revenge after his foster father Ector's death. Guinevere doesn't approve. Merlin acknowledges that Artus will have to fight Loth at some point, but doesn't think revenge is the right reason.
- Royal Blood: Morgana thinks her royal blood entitles her to power. Artus is of royal blood too, and is destined to rule.
- Sex for Solace: Artus' preoccupation with his war to avenge Ector's death drives Guinevere into Lancelot's arms. Both regret it immediately.
- Wedding Smashers: Loth's men crash Artus and Guinevere's wedding and kill Ector.
