Hear ye, hear ye! Unsheath your swords and prepare your armor! For only one more weekend hence, New Generation Theatrical will be presenting the latest installment in their Gothic Anthology series. This time around, the story, Gothic Castle, is set in King Arthur’s Camelot, with previous iterations having taken place in a Gothic Tavern, at a Gothic Manor, and even aboard a gothic pirate ship!
I was only lucky enough to catch that last, most recent of these predecessors, but it was enough to get a sense of how the current offering adheres to a basic formula: two intermissions, two complimentary cocktails per audience member, and a ton of broad comedy and on-theme hijinks in between.
Written and directed by New Gen’s Creative Director Michael Knight, this original show is a spirited offering mostly for the fact that it is fully aware of its own unseriousness. There’s enough of a plot to hold together all the bawdy quips, zany bits, and clever anachronisms- but you’ll honestly probably still have fun if you don’t even try to follow it.
As a preshow announcement repeatedly warns, you may not be able to have quite as much fun if you’re easily offended by much of anything that might require that disclaimer, be it politics or be it penis. At times, the low-brow humor got to be a little grating, especially in the show’s comparatively low-action first act.
Even then, there are plenty of engaging moments amidst the sex jokes—for example, when Haylet Sanz appears as a few different princesses, impressively shifting personas to portray each. There were also several fum moments in which the performers show off their improv chops and engage with the audience directly.
At Saturday evening’s show that audience was nearly full and totally into it—some had even come dressed for the occasion in Camelot-inspired attire. Everyone pulled onstage to complete a nonsensical quest or be temporarily “killed” went along with the setups.
I’d also wager that most got a kick out of the celebratory wine and vodka-based “potions” served during the show by in-character cast members. Non-drinkers can indicate on their way in if they’d like to opt for mocktails, and thirstier drinkers are free to supplement these libations by purchasing from the bar at either intermission.
In a stronger second act, Hannah McGinley steals the show several times over as a hilarious version of sorceress Morgana Le Fey, playing off co-stars Josh Melendez and Robie Phillips with impeccable comedic timing. The rest of the ensemble, including Gregg Baker Jr, Julia Thompson, and Jordan Green, jovially return to provide a satisfying conclusion to the sprightly romp.
For the show’s first weekend, director Knight made a punny appearance in the playfully embodied voiceover role of Sir Galahad, which will be taken over by Brandon Roberts for the second weekend.
In terms of production values, Knight as director seems able to make the most of limited resources, especially considering where he brings this ghostly story to life: a brand new performance space for the company located in a spacious corner of the eerily underoccupied Orlando Fashion Square Mall.
The show’s lighting is efficient and economical, it’s set effective and evocative, the only noticeable tech issues being sporadic dips in sound quality. Small extra touches help cement the immersiveness of the experience, like medieval-style instrumental covers of modern pop hits, and team members in period garb who welcome guests and scan in tickets.
Overall, as long as you don’t take Gothic Castle: Spirits of Camelot any more seriously than it takes itself, you’ll probably relish this light-hearted and unique theatrical experience, which is at the very least clearly the liveliest offering in its shopping center. Be sure to make plans to visit Camelot before the show closes on this coming August 24th!
TICKETS AND REMAINING SHOWTIMES:
Thursday, August 21, 2025 – 07:30 PM
Friday, August 22, 2025 – 07:30 PM
Saturday, August 23, 2025 – 07:30 PM
Sunday, August 24, 2025 – 02:00 PM
Tickets available HERE
Learn more about New Generation Theatrical HERE
CAST AND CREW
Mordred — Alexander Mrazek
Giselle — Megan Borkes
Addy — Julia Thompson
Gregor — Josh Melendez
Merv — Robie Phillips
Galahad — Michael Knight (Weekend 1)/Brandon Roberts (Weekend 2)
Morgan Le Fay — Hannah McGinley Lemasters
Dave — Gregg Baker Jr
Princesses/Swing — Hayley Sanz
Servant — Jordan Green
Writer/Director: Michael Knight
Stage Manager: Toni Chandler
Fight Choreography: Hayley Sanz
Set and Scenic Design and Build: Isaac Bannasch
Lighting Design, Scenic Assistant: Michael Darby
Sound Design: Michael Knight
Costumes: Toni Chandler