Man of La Mancha

MAN OF LA MANCHA  is a musical that is not performed very often and this is a shame because it is packed full of  gorgeous songs and an intriguing story.    The play within a play is set in the dark days of the Spanish Inquisition with the central figure Alonso Quijana who believes himself to be the valiant knight, Don Quixote.    He sets out to right some wrongs and on his travels he meets a kitchen maid and part time sex worker, has a battle with the windmills (he believes to be giants).   He is arrested, along with his faithful manservant, and the show opens in the prison where the story begins to unfold.

The stage was dressed for the prison scene with the musicians artfully housed on the stage but partly hidden by foliage and the prison bars.  As the action moved to the inn, screens on either side of the stage were used to illustrate the location of the action with furniture (table etc) added to complete the scene.  Gorgeous stained glass window pictures were used for the scenes in the church.    The props were good and included cooking pots, wooden spoon and the contents of Don Quixote’s theatrical bag.   The mirrored shields of the inquisitors were stunning and very effective!

The costumes were excellent and included the leading man’s period costume (which he changed into on the stage while singing), vibrant black with red and yellow trimmed dresses for the dancers, mop caps, peasant style blouses and skirts and striking black capes for the Inquisitors.   There was a burst of colour when the gypsies appeared. 

The lighting was good and used to great effect when the mirror shields were moving.    The light was atmospheric and enhanced the scenes varying in strength, direction and intensity i.e. more harsh, stark light for the prison scene and a warmer glow for the interiors at the inn and church.

Every aspect of this production was thought out in great detail from the startling dancers that opened the show, the well-choreographed fight and the various songs and dances.  I particularly enjoyed the humour of ‘I was only thinking of him’.    Another highlight for me were the gorgeous harmonies of ‘Little Bird, Little Bird’.   The action moved swiftly along as the story unfolded and covered many emotions and scenarios, some humorous (the knighting scene) some serious (Aldonza’s mistreatment by the muleteers).   With sharp direction from Sue Sampson, her well drilled actors moved with precision, purpose and confidence.    No opportunity was lost to strengthen the story and performance of a very talented cast and this was particularly evident in the performances of The Impossible Dream’ ; the central theme of the show.   This was an evening of joyful and intelligent entertainment.  

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