BWW Reviews: Ron Lalá Theater Company's SOMEWHERE IN QUIOXTE

Miguel Cervantes, renowned Spanish author and veteran, has a problem no one wants in the middle of a novel: writer's block. Facing lawsuits, debtors, and an inner struggle with his country and previous service to it, Cervantes enlists the help of his friends the priest and the barber to bring to life the story that will be world-famous: Don Quixote. Thus begins the double plot surrounding Cervantes, his main character and the ways in which they intertwine.

Staged in the Family Theater at the Kennedy Center, SOMEWHERE IN QUIXOTE comes as part of the IBERIAN SUITE: global arts remix running through March 24th. Stage Designer CURT ALLEN WILMER has created a frenetic study within the theater, using book pages as wallpaper, and books line the aisles up to the middle of the space. There are multiple stations surrounding the center of the stage for actors to sit, grab props, or play a varying, intriguing score of live, synthesized music. Each actor plays an instrument, and the music is a very cool, energetic mix of classic, enhanced, and international sounds.

The central concept of this show is smartly crafted. Cervantes and his friends watch Don Quixote on his multiple madness-driver adventures, frequently jumping in as both male and female characters to help Cervantes write and explain himself. There are funny sequences, and those that remind you of the universal themes that can be pulled from Don Quixote and still ring true today: freedom, love, honor and remembering history. You begin to realize that Cervantes is writing himself and his own memories, personifying his frustration into a ridiculous man pursuing everything past instruction tells him to do.

As serious as this show may sound, there are a lot of brilliant moments coming from the five actors who are almost all continuously on the stage. Ron Lalá and Director Yayo Cáceres manage to include some pop culture references, all funny, timely and loved by the audience. While Don Quixote de la Mancha (ÍÑIGO ECHEVARRÍA) and Sancha Panza (DANIEL ROVALHER) remain in the same roles throughout, the other three actors, JUAN CAÑAS, ÁLVARO TATO and MIGUEL MAGDALENA (also the Music Director) switch roles and occasionally genders.

Echevarría is brilliantly mad, and Rovalher's comedy skills are wonderful. Cañas's range between the tortured Cervantes and whiny Housekeeper is a lot of fun, and Tato and Magdalena make the most out of each role they play. Together, they form a very strong ensemble, demonstrating their comfort with each other and enjoyment of what they are doing on stage.

The show is almost entirely in Spanish, with subtitles projected on three screens. Unfortunately, the translation slideshow got stuck a few times, the worst freeze lasting about a minute or two until they caught up in a song. This caused the context to get lost. Lighting Designer Miguel Camacho crafts a beautiful series of spotlights, shading and transitions, but at the beginning, because of the varied lighting and the actors all being upstage, it was difficult to see which actor was talking.

For those who love literature and the stories behind it, this is a good choice. It wanders somewhat far into the abstract at times, but then again, given its subject matter, perhaps it probably should. Go see this fun company of actors before the festival is over, and enjoy all the journeys they bring.

SOMEWHERE IN QUIOXTE runs as part of the Kennedy Center's IBERIAN SUITE: global arts remix international arts festival. The performances continue through March 22nd. The show runs about an hour and fifty minutes, and is meant for children ages 12 and older. For more information, visit the website.

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