Director Linda Granger (with her trusty assistant Jan Ross) managed "a talented and hard-working cast and crew of 54 people" to bring La Mancha to the Waverly East stage. With the help of choreographer Fran Ludington and fight choreographer Austin Elieff they brought this world to life. Kudos to Music Director James Geer and his 5-piece orchestra.
Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ seventeenth-century masterpiece, Don Quixote, Dale Wasserman's Man of La Mancha is a play within a play within a dungeon beautifully designed by Tom Ferris. With the help of dramatic lighting (Jim Lorenz) and some ominous sounds by Darryl Schmitz, it becomes a myriad of locales and states of reality/illusion. Chris Kennedy's beautiful costumes complete the picture.
The celebrated score (music Mitch Leigh; lyrics Joe Darion) includes “The Impossible Dream,” “I, Don Quixote,” “Dulcinea,” “I Really Like Him,” and “Little Bird.” It's hard not to sing along. My personal favorite is Padre Bill Henson's angelic "To Each His Dulcinea."
Marty Underhill led the cast as the nuanced title character, blending heroics and tender romanticism with a beautiful voice. Bobby Maldonado bubbled with humor and devotion as his squire, Sancho. Rachel Mender brought a tough take on the embattled kitchen wench Aldonza trying to make sense of the idealized "Dulcinea" identity with which Don Quixote elevates her.
The muleteers wer macho and menacing (Ed Baker, Leo Poroshin, Caleg Liggett, Rocky Heuft, Tom Webb and Stephen Clark—plus newcomer Jake Przybyla who showed off an impressive voice as Anselmo. Kelly Sandula-Gruner, Dan Templin, and Charlotte Ruppert shone in featured roles and the fun song, "I'm Only Thinking of Him" - and Dave Sincox was a melodious and jovial innkeeper/governor.
Man of La Mancha continues tomorrow, Sunday Box Office opens at 1:00 pm
Dessert only on Sunday is served at 1:30 pm; Show begins at 2:00 pm
Next Friday and Saturday; Box Office opens at 6:00 pm; Dinner (lasagne, salad, cheesecake) is served at 6:30 pm;
Show begins at 7:30 pm
All seats for dinner and the show are by reservation only. Reservations must be made at least three days in advance of the performance to guarantee a dinner seating.
Regular musical with dinner is $39 ;
show only is $18
Reservation phone (517) 599-2779.
more info at http://www.starlightdinnertheatre.com