Man of La Mancha

Written by Dale Wasserman - Music by Mitch Leigh - Lyrics by Joe Darion

Man of La Mancha exceeded expectation across the board.

I have to say when I told my boyfriend we were off to see a musical he looked less than thrilled. Man of La Mancha was so captivating though that he thoroughly enjoyed it too. First performed in 1965, this adaptation of Cervantes original 1605 tale of the adventures of Don Quixote, has won 5 Tony Awards and includes wonderfully rousing songs such as Impossible Dream.

It’s no ordinary musical though – it’s an innovatively performed musical drama with the musicians out of the pit and on centre stage. Each actor plays an instrument on stage. The music and the physical presence of the instruments forms an integral part of the action. For example in the scene of Aldonza’s attack by the Muleteers the menacing music was given added weight by the fact it is comes from the hands of her attackers. The instruments themselves seem to become weapons. Robert Pettigrew’s [Musical Director] merging of actor and musician works spectacularly well in the hands of this multi-talented cast. The exceptional performances by Nicholas Pound as Cervantes/Don Quixote and Pauline Knowles as Aldonsa are of particular note.

This Man of La Mancha bursts out from the bleak prison where Cervantes is incarcerated during the Spanish Inquistion to liberate the visions of a man who believes the impossible dream. A man who believes in chivalry. A man who refuses to be limited by ‘reality’. A man who fights with windmills. A madman? This story raises enduring questions of truth and reality. Who is right, the cynical realists, the optimistic dreamers, both or neither? What does it say about modern leaders who dreamed ‘impossible’ dreams such as Martin Luther King and Ghandi?

As well as being thought-provoking and sparking philosophical discussions, this production is witty, engaging and uplifting. You’ll come out of the theatre believing you can achieve your Impossible Dream and if not you’ll certainly be humming it!