2008 Woodie Awards
'Man of La Mancha'- a play within a play
MATTHEW BOYLE
Culture Writer
Issue date: 3/5/07 Section: Culture
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Miguel De Cervantes/ Don Quixote set out “to dream the impossible dream” and right the wrongs of the many other characters in the play.
“Man of La Mancha,” historically successful on Broadway and in many other theaters across the world, hit the spot again - this time at Boise State University. It is currently showing at the Morrison Center on Stage II.
The musical opens with financially struggling tax collector and Poet Miguel De Cervantes and his servant being thrown in jail by the Spanish Inquisition for placing a lean on a Catholic Church that refused to pay taxes.
The prisoners already in jail, mostly for murder, decide to “hold a trial” to see if they should kill Cervantes and his servant before the Inquisition gets to them.
Cervantes demands that he be granted a chance for defense against the prisoners. For his defense, he puts on a musical play, using all of the other prisoners as actors and actresses.
The role of Aldonza, a promiscuous prisoner, becomes the main female role in the musical.
Before Don Quixote comes to save her reputation, Aldonza was considered a whore by the rest of the men in prison.
Quixote insists that Aldonza’s name is “Dulcinea,” a beautiful lady’s name.
The main action in the play is that Quixote asserts that Dulcinea is a beautiful lady and not Aldonza the whore.
The plot develops in such a way that the mysteriously noble “Man of La Mancha” finds true honor, pride and courage in the prisoners and questions the reasoning behind his current world.
The musical begs the question “Why did the noble traits in the days of knights fade?”
A dusty, crumbling, wooden prison is the set before the eyes of the spectators. The audience is seated on both sides of the stage with the main stage below the audience. The cast continually comes up and down the aisles, entering and exiting through the audience. Also, platforms rise above each side of the stage and much of the action takes place there.
The costumes worn by the characters show their background and current situation.
Two characters are chained to the wall with leather masks to prevent their escape. Shabby footwear and tattered clothing hang from the characters, putting the audience in the life of a prisoner during the Spanish Inquisition.
Tremendous effort and hours of preparation are invested in this magnificent musical, “Man of La Mancha,” put on by the Boise State Theatre Department.
The impossible dream is certainly being dreamt here.
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