Character guide
Merlyn
from Camelot
Merlyn is the wizard who tutors a young King Arthur in Camelot, Lerner and Loewe's 1960 musical.
- Show
- Camelot
- Broadway premiere
- 1960
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Frederick Loewe
Merlyn on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1967 film
David Hurst originated Merlyn on Broadway in 1960, and Laurence Naismith played him, credited as Merlin, in the 1967 film. On stage Merlyn's exit is magical: the water nymph Nimue lures him into her cave for an eternal sleep with the song Follow Me, just as he is struggling to remember what he needed to warn Arthur about. The film's soundtrack keeps Follow Me but with new lyrics written for the movie.
The 2023 Broadway revival went further than the film in changing him. Aaron Sorkin's revised book strips out all the magic, makes Merlin a sage rather than a wizard, and removes Nimue entirely.
Who is Merlyn?
Merlyn appears at the very start of the show as Arthur's mentor, a wise and slightly absentminded magician who lives backward through time and already knows much of what is to come. He teaches the young, uncertain Arthur to think for himself and plants the seeds of the ideals that will shape the Round Table.
Though Merlyn is taken from Arthur's side early in the story, spirited away by the enchantress Nimue, his influence continues to shape Arthur's choices throughout the musical, making him the philosophical foundation the whole story is built on.
Merlyn's role in Camelot
Merlyn is a supporting role concentrated in the show's opening scenes, giving an older character actor a brief but memorable presence rather than a major musical showcase. The role is more about wry, avuncular wisdom than vocal demands.
David Hurst originated the role in 1960, and the part has continued to be cast with seasoned actors who can establish Arthur's guiding philosophy in just a few short scenes before exiting the story.
Merlyn: frequently asked questions
What show is Merlyn from?
Merlyn is a supporting character in Camelot, which opened in 1960.
Is Merlyn a lead or supporting role?
Merlyn is a supporting role, appearing mainly in the opening scenes as Arthur's mentor.
Who wrote the music for Camelot?
Frederick Loewe wrote the music, with Alan Jay Lerner writing the lyrics and book.
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