Turtle Lane's current
show is the Tony Award winning musical "Man of La Mancha" which
is based on Miguel De Cervantes 16th Century novel, Don Quixote.
It is set in the common room of a prison in Seville, Spain
during the Spanish Inquisition. Don Quixote sees the world as he
thinks it ought to be. He imagines he is a knight, his faithful
servant his squire; together they will punish evildoers, restore
justice, and bring chivalry back to society. His morals and
standards of living bring current day audiences a look back on
how people conducted themselves in the past and Quixote's ideals
would be a refreshing change to the current day world which
seems headed to hell in a hand basket. Director John MacKenzie
takes the audience into this dramatic world with his talented 18
member cast who weave a story of hope amidst tough and troubling
times through dialogue and music. He instills these lessons in
his cast members and they do an excellent job with a
heartwarming show that brings hope for a better tomorrow and the
belief that everyone's impossible dream will come true. The
important message to strive for your ideals is learned by these
prisoners by show's end by accepting Quixote's vision of "The
Impossible Dream". This topnotch cast is rewarded with a
standing ovation and many tears along the journey by show's end.
John not only directs
this show but built the two story dungeon setting. It helps set
the mood of the piece with the appropriate lighting by John,
too. It helps to understand the transition from Cervantes'
imagination and back to the real prison. John's lovely wife,
Michelle is the scenic artist who painted the intricate designs
on the set. Steve Black, the musical director picked some
outstanding vocalist to sell the songs to the crowd. He not only
conducts his 7 piece orchestra but plays the lead keyboards for
it and taught the cast these intricate songs. The standout
choral numbers include "Golden Helmet" and the show stopping
finale which leaves everyone in tears at its powerful
impact. Stage manager Christopher Teague keeps the characters
moving seamlessly from one scene to the next. Another important
part of this show are the costumes by Richard Itczak which help
the cast turn into the roles they are portraying in the Quixote
storyline. The especially impressive costumes are Antonia's,
Carrasco's, the housekeeper and the Padre.
The linchpin in this show is
the person who plays the dual roles of Cervantes and Don Quixote
who is really Alonso Quijana in the play within a play scenes.
James Fitzpatrick handles this huge undertaking excellently. He
makes the transitions among the three much older characters than
he is with ease. The most dramatic moments are when he explains
the meaning of life and when he takes leave of the prison in the
final scene. A terrifying moment occurs as the guards descend
before his meaning of life scene to take a prisoner to her
death, Robin Amendola is dragged out of the prison, screaming
and begging for mercy during this scene, leaving the audience
empathic at her plight. Not only is James a fantastic actor
turning himself into this knight errant, he is also a terrific
singer with a tremendous baritone voice. His voice soars in "The
Impossible Dream" while teaching Aldonza and the audience how we
should live our lives. This song stops the show with its
intensity, sends chills up your spine with James receiving a
thunderous ovation at its conclusion as he hits the final high
note of the number. He starts off the show with the duet with
Sancho, "I Am I, Don Quixote", delivers the poignancy with a
heartfelt rendition of "Dulcinea" when he first spots his lady
love and in the rousing "Golden Helmet", where he thinks a
shaving basin is his helmet. Bravo on a job very well done.
Equally important is the actress who plays Aldonza in this show.
Tracy Nygard, a gorgeous statuesque brunette with captivating
blue eyes, breathes life into the role of the strumpet who
becomes the lady, Dulcinea, in accordance to Quixote's vision of
her. She reminds you of Catherine Zeta Jones. Whoever plays this
underwritten role must have the acting chops to accomplish this
transformation to make it believable and Tracy does it with
flying colors. She is not only an excellent actress but she also
has a fantastic soprano voice which moves the audience to tears
when she tries to bring Don Quixote back to his life of
adventure with her "Dulcinea" and her recitation of "The
Impossible Dream". Tracy also shows Aldonza's spitfire side
and harsh behavior in "It's All the Same", her tender side in
"What Does He Want of Me" which is a tear jerker number and her
exasperation at his foolish idealism in "Aldonza" with her
climbing the stairway at the close of the number heightening its
impact. She runs the gamut of emotions in this role and does a
terrific job in the abduction scene as she fighter off the
muleteers. Tracy's finale song will have you sobbing in your
seats at its powerful impact. Last reviewed Tracy as the lead in
"Sorry Wrong Number" in 2007.) Brava!
The comic side of this
show is handled by Joe Berry as Sancho. This man has a fabulous
tenor voice which is heard in the opening song with James, in
the hilarious "I Like Him" song where he tells Aldonza why he
follows his master and in "A Little Gossip" song where he tries
to help Alsono remember being Don Quixote. Joe sells not only
the songs but his one liners leave you in stitches due to his
comic mannerisms, line delivery and facial expressions. The
poignant last scene and the tenderness of all three leads is
felt in the deathbed scene, gaining the empathy of the audience.
Last May Joe and James starred as Max and Roger in "The
Producers" at Turtle Lane, showing they are adept at comic
roles, too.) Tim Leahy plays the Governor/Innkeeper with great
physical prowess and energy necessary to keep the other
prisoners in line and to put Cervantes on trial in these scenes.
As the innkeeper he tries to control Quixote and Sancho but
they always seem to get into trouble. Tim is not only a talented
actor but possesses a bass/baritone voice which is heard
in "Knight of the Woeful Countenance" number with James, Joe and
Tracy where he finally dubs him a knight. The Innkeeper's
shrewish wife, Maria is played by Colette Gagnon who rules him
with an iron thumb while the serving girls are played by Emma
Putnam and Joelle Kross who also play the dancing horses in the
show.. The show's villain, Duke/Dr. Carrasco is
wonderfully played by Kevin Cirone ( He played the comical
villain Franz in "The Producers") The doctor is a man of science
who stands in the way of the idealism set forth by Cervantes. He
is married to Quiana's niece and is worried about
her inheritance and makes Alsono snap back to reality by
becoming the Knight of the Mirrors where the idealism is
destroyed by the harsh view of reality. The Padre is played by
Bob Vanaria. His strong tenor voice sells his "To Each His
Dulcinea" song which says that everyone needs something good in
their life and the poignant death lament, "De Profundis" sung
after Quixote's death. Bob brings the needed depth that the
role needs. Antonia is played by Shonna McEachern who has a
topnotch soprano voice as does June Kfoury as the Housekeeper.
They show their concern for her uncle in "I'm Only Thinking of
Him" with Bob and later with Kevin in a trio and quartet
version. The rough muleteers are led by Craig McKerley as Pedro
who possesses a glorious tenor voice which is heard in "Little
Bird" and the group numbers. Cliff Blake is a hoot as the
barber. This show brings back many happy memories of when I
played the Barber and Moorish pimp twice in 1985 and 1990. So
for an outstanding production of this classic show, be sure to
catch "Man of La Mancha" before Don Quixote and company ride out
of town.
MAN
OF LA MANCHA (19 February to 14 March, 2010)
Turtle Lane Playhouse, 283 Melrose Street, Newton,MA
