It’s a sign of the times that one of the biggest laughs on opening night of Stages St. LOuis’ Man of la Mancha was the line, “Facts are the enemy of truth”.
The show, a mainstay since its arrival on Broadway, takes a lot of work to seem fresh after appearing so often in both professional and amateur versions. Stages, thanks to the direction of Michael Hamilton, manages that with a great deal of energy.
The story, a play-within-a-play, throws author Miguel de Cervantes into a prison as the Spanish Inquisition is in progress. Most of the other folks populating his new digs are in for more traditional crimes. they’re none too happy that this guy with his polite manners and highflown language has arrived complete with a trunk and a manservant. And in one of mankind’s oldest traditions, he begins to tell them a story – in this case, act out a play – to appease and distract them.
We all know it will be the story of Don Quixote, and before our eyes Cervantes transform himself into the befuddled Quijano, who believes he’s Don Quixote. The ideals of a knightly life, honor, truth, selflessness, motivate him. They’re a source of wonder and a cause for scorn from the denizens of the dungeon as well as the patrons of the inn where most of the subsequent action takes place.
This isn’t a lighthearted comedy, certainly. There’s a rape scene, here fully clothed, but nonetheless very disquieting. And we are, after all, dealing with the horrors of the Inquisition. Nevertheless, there’s a charm about all this, primarily in how the characters are portrayed. Broad comedy is more than appropriate – Sancho Panza is historically a fellow who gets lots of laughs, for instance.
It’s a strong cast. James Patterson moves from the spry Cervantes to the aging Quixote with ease. Amanda Robles absolutely owns Aldonza, the tough tavern wench whom Quixote begs to be his lady. The funny, faithful Panza is courtesy of Patrick John Moran.
Plenty of credit to go around beyond the large cast, many of whom will be familiar to Stages regulars once they peer beyond the headgear of the period. Those costumes range from rags to the robes of the Inquisition are from Brad Musgrove. He gets extra points for the horses, by the way. James Wolkgives us a great set, too, something that could have come out of Hogwarts.
The message of the show is that idealism is a constant struggle. (That explains the laughs at that line.) Man of la Mancha is a good way to encourage your idealism.
Man of la Mancha
through October 6
Stages St. Louis
Robert G. Reim Theatre
111 S. Geyer Rd., Kirkwood
314-821-2407