Fans of community theater are well rewarded in the Prescott Center for the Art’s current production of Man of La Mancha. The Dan Wasserman musical, loosely based on Miguel de Cervantes 17th century novel, Don Quixote, ran for over 2300 performances and won five Tony awards in its original 1965 Broadway production. These included Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Musical Performance for Richard Kiley. Your humble reviewer had the great good fortune of seeing Kiley reprise his role as Don Quixote in the 1972 Broadway revival and then again a few years later at the National Theater in Washington, DC in the national touring company’s production with Robert Goulet in the title role. These were unforgettable nights of the best of American musical theater.
The book by Dan Wasserman was originally written as a teleplay “I, Don Quixote” in the 1959 Dupont Theater’s Show of the Month on CBS. The TV play was so popular that Wasserman was encouraged to adapt it into a musical. Mitch Leigh wrote the music and Joe Darion contributed lyrics. Together they produced two of the most enduring standards from musical theater, “The Impossible Dream” and the title song, “Man of La Mancha”. I mention this as an expression of nostalgia for the once golden age of the Broadway musical. Sadly, there hasn’t been a new Broadway musical with a hit song produced in the 21st century. America awaits the talent who can Make Musicals Great Again.
Although the character of Don Quixote and background of the story are drawn from Cervante’s novel, the musical is only loosely based on the original story. The plot is somewhat convoluted. Don Quixote, the “mad knight”, commissioned as a tax collector, has been thrown into prison along with his faithful companion, Sancho Panza. The Don has been summoned to appear before the Spanish Inquisition for the crime of filing a tax foreclosure on a monastery. When the other prisoners begin to attack him for his valuables, he pleads for the chance to tell his story. And an amazing story it is, full of comedy, melodrama, and madness.
The cast assembled for this local production of Man of La Mancha have given us a wonderful evening of theater. One of the reasons this particular musical is a great favorite of community theater, aside from the rich cast of characters and music, is the simplicity of the set. All the stage action occurs in a single set designed to look like a dungeon. Scene changes are nicely managed thru lighting and costume changes. Set designer Gary Fruhwirth did a first rate job.
The lead role was very ably handled by Darrel James Rowader. Mr. Rowader’s early career began as an apprentice with the Sante Fe Opera. He has appeared in numerous operatic roles in the US and abroad. Local theater goers will recall his work as Piangi in Phantom of the Opera and as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.
The role of Aldonza is a complex one, calling for vocal skills and skillful character development. Local singer and actor Hanah Palazzi brought excellent vocals and a controlled sense of character to her performance. Robert Novak in the role of Sancho Panza and Greg James as the Inn Keeper are deserving of special mention. Cameron Snyder, a recent graduate of Yavapai Community College’s Fine Arts Program, offered a stylish Gypsy Barber.
Man of La Mancha is in its final week, September 28 thru October 1st. The few tickets remaining may be purchased thru the Box Office of Suze’s Prescott Center for the Arts, at 208 N Marina Street, Prescott, Arizona.
