BWW Reviews: Pioneer Theatre Company's MAN OF LA MANCHA is Transcendent

From the moment the audience is seated at Pioneer Theatre Company's Man of La Mancha, it is evident that this is no run-of-the-mill production of the show. A massive metal portcullis replaces the stage curtains, with the prison behind it sumptuously lit and enlivened by fog undulating through the shafts of light. It is a striking visual representation of what director Charles Morey (in his last show as the theatre's artistic director) has done to elevate and illuminate the material.

The classic musical (book by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh, lyrics by Joe Darion) is inherently simple in form. The writer Cervantes, imprisoned in the Spanish Inquisition, acts out his tale of Don Quixote for and with his fellow prisoners. Don Quixote is a man who is derided as delusional because he believes he is a knight. However, he positively affects the life of a woman named Aldonza because he chooses to see the good in her that no one else sees.

Because all the action technically takes place in the prison, there is little opportunity for spectacle in the set (designed by George Maxwell) and lighting (designed by Phil Monat) apart from the afore-mentioned opening stage picture.

However, the striking use of harsh lighting changes in the rape scene is extremely affecting. This haunting scene is the crux of the production's focus on the baser elements of the story, which serves to shed even greater light on the overall themes. To quote the show's most beloved number, Morey is "willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause," which allows the story to transcend its morality tale trappings to become nuanced and meaningful commentary on the human experience.

The leading man, Broadway veteran William Michals, is everything the show requires and the audience expects, showcasing strong acting and singing skills. His transitions from Cervantes to Don Quixote, both internally and visibly, are seamless and remarkable.

There is not a weak link in the remainder of the cast, although Broadway performers Maria Eberline as Aldonza and Daniel Marchus as Sancho Panza are standouts.

Additional kudos go to hair and makeup designer Amanda French, costume designer Carol Wells-Day, and the talented orchestra.

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Man of La Mancha plays through May 19, 2012. For tickets, call the box office at 801-581-6961 or visit www.pioneertheatre.org.

Photo Credit: L-R Maria Eberline as Aldonza and William Michals as Don Quixote. Photo by Alexander Weisman.

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