Opera House Players, Broad Brook, CT
through November 29, 2015
by Michael J. Moran
The triumph of hope over adversity is the timeless theme of
the hit 1965 musical “Man of La Mancha.” But its play within a play structure
and its dark prison setting can make it a hard act to pull off. The Opera House
Players make an honorable effort.
The show’s book by Dale Wasserman is based on his
non-musical 1959 television play “I, Don Quixote,” which tells the story of the
fictional knight as enacted by Cervantes, author of the 1615 novel “Don
Quixote,” and his fellow prisoners while they await their hearings before the
Spanish Inquisition. With music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion, the
score’s most familiar number is the much-recorded “The Impossible Dream,” but
it also features many other memorable tunes.
Those familiar with John Baran as the host of “As Schools
Match Wits” will be pleasantly surprised to find what a credible Don Quixote he
makes, bringing solid acting skills and a strong singing voice to the title
role. That this engagement ends a 30-year absence from the stage after training
at the Hartt School and some early musical theatre credits makes his
performance all the more impressive.
But the best reason to see this “La Mancha” is the stunning
account by Erica Romeo as Aldonza, the self-described “kitchen slut” whom
Quixote transforms into his lady Dulcinea. Her contempt for the muleteers who
regularly abuse her makes “It’s All the Same” a bone-chilling scream of outrage,
and her disbelief of Quixote gives “Aldonza” a poignantly cutting edge.
Jim Metzler does fine work as the Padre, and Brad Shephard
as the innkeeper brings his usual vocal heft to the “Knight of the Woeful
Countenance.” Carl Calhoun sings a delightful “I Really Like Him,” but his
rendition of Sancho Panza is otherwise under-characterized.
Moonyean Field’s costumes are distinctive, and musical
director Steven Cirillo leads a stellar ensemble of three, with particularly
atmospheric contributions from guitarist Daniel Hartington. Scene transitions
are sometimes distractingly clunky.
Not a perfect “Man of La Mancha,” then, but worth seeing for
at least Romeo’s outstanding performance.
