From couch to court, Gabriel Byrne charms in 'Camelot'

After playing the tormented shrink Dr. Paul Weston in HBO's "In Treatment," the Irish actor went from couch to court, starring Wednesday in Lerner and Loewe's beloved 1960 musical.

It was the first of five performances through Saturday, with one of the world's greatest pit orchestras -the New York Philharmonic -continuing its recent annual tradition of producing semi-staged musicals.

The 70 instrumentalists, conducted by Broadway veteran Paul Gemignani, weren't UNDER the stage at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall but ON it -in the back. With only a few full rehearsals, the coordination was quite dexterous because there could be no eye contact between the actors and music director.

With the orchestra playing, Byrne spoke most of his lyrics, occasionally singing when the music fell within his range.

He seemed nervous when he first appeared after being summoned by the dreadlocked and red-cloaked magician Merlyn (delightfully portrayed by Stacy Keach). Of course, Byrne was depicting a king anxious about meeting his bride-to-be.

Whatever inner stiffness he may have had vanished by his first big number -"I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight." Although he often beat the orchestra to the end of phrases, his overall performance as the idealistic and forgiving monarch was endearing.

His queen, Guenevere, had no trouble singing. Marin Mazzie, whose Broadway credits include "Kiss Me, Kate," "Ragtime" and "Monty Python's Spamalot," was in her element. Her sweet soprano voice and great looks were perfect for the role of the queen who falls in love with a knight.

Completing the triangle was heartthrob baritone Nathan Gunn as Sir Lancelot. He made his presence known immediately upon entering with testosterone swagger, his powerful voice booming the "Camelot" battle cry and then segueing into "C'est Moi." His big number -the Act 2 ballad "If Ever I Would Leave You" -got the loudest ovation of the evening from the near-capacity audience of about 2,400.

The cast also included Christopher Lloyd as Pellinore and Fran Drescher as Morgan le Fey. Both brought their trademark shtick -Lloyd sounded like the perennially inebriated Jim of the 1980s sitcom "Taxi"; Drescher, with her nasal Queens accent, was as ditzy as "The Nanny."