Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C.

Man of La Mancha
Shakespeare Theatre Company

Also see Susan's reviews of Soon, Freedom's Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War and The Originalist


Nehal Joshi and Anthony Warlow
The Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington and director Alan Paul have created a thrilling, full-blooded production of Man of La Mancha that makes the most of the wide, deep stage of Sidney Harman Hall.

As the audience enters, actors are already talking or fighting on Allen Moyer's industrial-looking set of latticed walls with a threatening metal bridge overhead. The setting is a Spanish prison in 1594, but it has a timeless, even modern appearance.

The 1965 musical by Dale Wasserman (book), Mitch Leigh (music), and Joe Darion (lyrics) uses the imprisonment of author Miguel de Cervantes (Anthony Warlow).by the Spanish Inquisition as the vehicle for an examination of scenes from Cervantes' most famous work, "Don Quixote." When the other prisoners try to take away the author's manuscript, he enlists their help in telling the story of the mad "knight errant" who sees only nobility among the worst elements of society.

Warlow has a commanding voice and a majestic presence, seizing the audience's attention throughout and giving "The Impossible Dream" the power it deserves. Nehal Joshi plays Quixote's friend and squire, Sancho Panza, as a bit of a sad sack, sustained by his dark sense of humor. Most interestingly, Amber Iman reimagines the role of Aldonza—the kitchen slavey and prostitute whom Quixote sees as his idealized "Dulcinea"—as less operatic (the original actress, Joan Diener, was a trained soprano) and more soulful, gritty and sustained by bitterness.

Paul hasn't slighted the less somber side of the musical. Maria Failla and Rayanne Gonzales find the self-justifying humor as Quixote's relatives, and Nathan Lucrezio charms as an itinerant barber. Even a scene set in a church includes a throwaway sight gag.

Choreographer Marcos Santana has created muscular ensemble work for the muleteers, including a visceral (but not explicit) rape scene. David Leong's fight choreography conveys a genuine sense of danger.

Musical director George Fulginiti-Shakar commands an intense 12-piece orchestra stationed in a theater box next to the stage.

Shakespeare Theatre Company
Man of La Mancha March 17th - April 26th
Written by Dale Wasserman
Music by Mitch Leigh
Lyrics by Joe Darion
Cervantes/Don Quixote: Anthony Warlow
Aldonza: Amber Iman
Sancho: Nehal Joshi
The Governor/Innkeeper: Dan Sharkey
The Innkeeper's Wife/Housekeeper: Rayanne Gonzales
The Duke/Dr. Carrasco: Robert Mammana
The Padre: Martin Solá
Pedro: Ceasar F. Barajas
Anselmo/Barber: Nathan Lucrezio
Paco: Sidney DuPont
Tenorio: JP Moraga
Juan: Joey Elrose
Jose: James Hayden Rodriguez
Fermina/Antonia: Maria Failla
The Captain of the Inquisition: James Konicek
Guards: Jay Adriel, Ethan Watermeier
Directed by Alan Paul
Music director: George Fulginiti-Shakar
Choreographer: Marcos Santana
Harman Center for the Arts, Sidney Harman Hall
610 F St. N.W.
Washington, DC
Ticket Information: 202-547-1122 or 877-487-8849 or www.shakespearetheatre.org


Photo: Scott Suchman