Slapstick comedic fights and heartbreaking pathos mingle together in Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s production of Man of La Mancha, running on weekends from April 26 – June 17, 2018.
Miguel de Cervantes, author and actor in 16th century Spain, is forced to make ends meet as a tax collector for the local government. He has made the mistake of foreclosing on a monastery that refused to pay taxes and the Spanish Inquisition has retaliated by imprisoning him and his friend Sancho Panza (someone had to nail the foreclosure notice to the door), in a dungeon to await purification. They have allowed him to keep a large wicker basket full of costumes – the tools of his trade – and a manuscript that is precious to him.
The atmospheric dungeon
The dungeon teems with men and women – prostitutes, cut-purses, thieves, murderers – who immediately set upon Cervantes and take his possessions, including the manuscript. They hold a mock trial and Cervantes is accused of being “an idealist, a bad poet, and an honest man.” Cervantes pleads guilty but demands he also be allowed to plead for leniency from the “jury.” If he is unable to touch the heart of these hardened criminals and outcasts, his manuscript will be thrown in the fire.
Cervantes makes his plea in the only way he knows – his defense will be with performance art and he recruits some of the prisoners to portray various characters, with himself in the leading role of the idealistic, but quite mad, Don Quixote de la Mancha.
The Production
Cervantes must plead his case on a claustrophobic stage, which never lets the audience forget that he is fighting for his life’ work – and even if he succeeds with his fellow prisoners will still have to defend his very life when the Inquisition summons him.
David Wygant stars – both literally and figuratively – as Cervantes/Don Quixote. It’s his show, and he carries it off superbly.
When Cervantes is in his element, directing his actors in their roles, Wygant plays him as quick and sure of himself. As Don Quixote, Wygant transforms before our eyes into a doddering knight errant, with a soft voice but a determined air, seeing a giant where there’s just a windmill, a castle where there’s a ramshackle inn, and a beautiful and chaste lady where there’s only a serving wench beaten down by life and the many men she has had no choice but to sell her favors to in order to survive.
Ethan Knowles as Sancho and David Wygant as Don Quixote (Photo: RDG Photography)
Wygant has the strong voice and imposing presence needed for Don Quixote’s classic “Man of Mancha”, in which he fearlessly throws his gauntlet down against heathens and wizards and serpents of sin. Ethan Knowles as his squire, Sancho, is young, fresh-faced, and enthusiastic to follow his rather decrepit friend and master on his quest.
Heather McClain is also striking as Aldonza, who has managed to survive her life because of a barely-controlled anger always just below the surface (“One Pair of Arms is Like Another”). Don Quixote, with his steadfast belief in her as a chaste lady worthy of being adored from afar, disarms her of that anger (“What Does He Want of Me?”) which unfortunately leads to tragedy.
Don Quixote at vigil, with the perplexed Aldonza
George Lemmon, seemingly as wide as he is tall, plays the brutal Pedro, allowing Don Quixote’s bravery to shine through all the more as he unhesitatingly attacks the giant to defend his Dulcinea. The handful of prisoners who play the muleteers work together like a pack of jackals in a chillingly-choreographed scene with Aldozna.
Kent Sugg has a lot of fun in his dual role as “the Governor” – the leader of the prisoners – and the “Innkeeper” in the play within the play. As the Governor he’s a man with the commanding presence to give orders to these violent individuals and be instantly obeyed. When he essays the role of the “Innkeeper,” he is meek and mild and sympathetic to the mad Quixote.
Thomas Castro is the prisoner called “the Duke” who is scornful of Cervantes’ idealism, and whom Cervantes casts as Carrasco, the fiance of the mad Quejana’s niece who determines to bring him back to sanity. Castro’s brief performance as the masked Knight of the Mirrors is slow and menacing.
Man of La Mancha is capable of wringing many emotions from its audience. Candlelight Dinner Theatre’s production succeeds in doing so.
The Table Presentation
Table for two at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse
The Menu for The Man of La Mancha.
The themed dessert menu for Man of La Mancha
The Dinner
I always look forward to seeing what’s on offer for the food portion of the afternoon/evening at the Candelight Dinner Playhouse, because for each production, Kitchen Manager Nick Malizia designs several of the appetizers, entrees and desserts around the theme of thatparticular production.
For Man of La Mancha, there were quite a few Spanish dishes, as well as a few old standbys.
Dinner salad, chicken saffron, vegetables with the ubiquitous green beans, and rice
I had the Chicken Saffron, and requested the sauce on the side. Although the chicken was “bone in” it was a large chicken breast and quite delicious. Dinner rolls were also provided and refilled upon request. I had the Crema Catalana for dessert, as it was described as similar to a Creme Brulee. And the crunchy coating was Creme-bruleeish and quite delicious.
Crema Catalana for dessert.
Trout Tomatilla and a dessert of Bread Plantain Pudding
My theater companion had the Trout Tomatilla and said it was delicious. She also enjoyed the dessert of Bread Plantain Pudding.
The cast of Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s Man of La Mancha:
- Miguel Cervantes/Alonso Quijano/Don Quixote – David Wygant
- Aldonza/Dulcinea – Heather McClain
- Sancho – Ethan Knowles
- Duke/Carrasco/Knight of the Mirrors – Thomas P. Castro
- Barber – Ben Griffin
- Governor/Innkeeper – Kent Sugg
- Pedro – George Lemmon
- Anselmo – Leo Battle
- Antonia (Quijano’s niece)- Sarah Grover
- Quijano’s Housekeeper – Annie Dwyer
- Maria – Samantha Jo Staggs
- Fermina – Sarah Kowalski
- Moorish dancer – Susanna Ballenski
- Padre – Eric Heine
- Tenario – Broc Timmerman
- Paco/Moorish Man – Scotty Shaffer
- Jose -Scott Hurst Jr.
- Juan -Stephen Charles Turner
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The Orchestra
- Piano/Conductor – Victor Walters
- Trombone – Ben Bontrager, Josh Ceciliani
- Reeds – Gabriella Bliss
- Trumpet – Josh Margheim
- Percussion – John Meriwether
- Bass – Ori Bitton, Jason Lenz
- Guitar (on stage) – Scotty Shaffer
The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse
The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s production of Man of La Mancha runs Fridays through Sundays from April 26 – June 17, 2018. To make reservations go to their website at coloradocandlelight.com.
Just an hour or so south of Cheyenne, Wyoming, or an hour or so north of Denver, just off of I-25, it is located on the outskirts of Johnstown, Colorado. There is plenty of parking.
