Walnut Street's Man of La Mancha: To Each His Dulcinea

Many staged and film versions featuring of this classic show have been viewed. From Broadway's five productions first starring Richard Kiley (1965) as Don Quixote to Brian Stokes Mitchell (2002) to the most popular film version starring Peter O'Toole and Sophia Loren, this drama heavy story never changes.

The story is based on a poet/playwright of the 16th century who finds himself in a Spanish prison awaiting trial for his latest offense as a tax collector who's taxed the wrong peers. Cervantes/Don Quixote's fellow inmates seem more anxious to lighten his "bag of tricks" trunk of which Cervantes draws on as a "defense" for himself by reason of an all inclusive adventure. This involves a series of visions that slowly encompass the reluctant lot of prisoners.

One of the make or break challenges of Man of LaMancha is creating this play within a play as convincingly as possible as you are limited to one dreary prison cell, a handful of unsavory inmates, no additional sets or costume changes, unless you count the transformation of Cervantes into the "Don" using a smidgen of sooty makeup and a shaving bowl helmet.

The Walnut Street Theater's mounting is both hot and cold in its staging, casting and choreography. While the standout principles, of Cervantes/Quixote (Paul Schoeffler), Sancho (Jamie Torcelini) and Aldonza (Denise Whelan) are all fine actors/singers, there are too many lulls in the action especially in the first act.  Schoeffler's Cervantes is not as animated and commanding as the role calls for, while Torcelini's Sancho is a bit too over the top and any hint of Spanish is disguised in a Yiddish/ Italian fashion. In fact the entire cast is sorely pressed to convince the audience they are of Hispanic descent.

That's not to say there were no highlights in this production. Whelan's vocals as Aldonza are powerful as is her convincing acting.  Schoeffler delivers a better than average "Impossible Dream" but milks the audience a bit too hard in his death scene. The biggest lull comes in the fact that for most of the show the supporting cast who are not in the spotlight seems to huddle under the stairs looking bored to bits with the exception of the "twitching woman" who is front and near center and literally is never still.

Much of La Mancha's score with music by Mitch Leigh  and lyrics by Joe Darion is fairly forgettable with the exception of "Impossible Dream" and " Dulcinea".  A trio of supporting cast members does an admirable job with "I'm Only Thinking Of Him" and the role of the Padre is nicely played by Bev Appleton.

Man of La Mancha

Written by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh, lyrics by Joe Darion. Directed by Bruce Lumpkin. Music/vocal director, Edward Reichert; choreography by Michelle Gaudette, sets by Todd Edward Ivins, lighting by Jack Jacobs, costumes by Colleen Grady, sound by Ryk Lewis.

Cast: Paul Schoeffler (Cervantes/Don Quixote), Jamie Torcellini (Sancho), Denise Whelan (Aldonza), Jorge E. Maldonado (Pedro), Bev Appleton (Padre), Bill Van Horn (Governor/Innkeeper), Jennifer Hallie (Housekeeper), Katie O'Shaughnessey (Antonia), Suzanne H. Smart (Maria), Danielle Herbert (Fermina), Joshua Lamon (Barber), Bruce Winant (Duke/Dr. Corrasco), Michael Philip O'Brien (Anselmo), Steve Pacek (ensemble).

Playing at Walnut Street Theatre (9th & Walnut Streets), through October 21. Tickets $10-$67.50. Information: 215-574-3550 or 215-336-1234 or www.walnutstreettheatre.org

Photo by Brett Thomas, featuring (l-r) Jamie Torcellini and Paul Schoeffler

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