Man of La Mancha at West Orange is Professional Quality Theatre

by Valerie Marks, Cypress Creek High School

An ill man trapped in a madman created in the mind of a playwright on trial during the Spanish Inquisition: three different realities are executed beautifully in West Orange High School’s rendition of Miguel de Cervantes’ Man of La Mancha.

This whimsical drama depicts the story of Don Miguel de Cervantes, a Spanish playwright. Sentenced to trial by his fellow prisoners, Cervantes pleads for his life with a performace of his unfinished play, in which he casts the prisoners. Alonso Quijana is an aging old man who has gone insane. He believes that he is Don Quixote, Knight Errant of La Mancha. Quixote and his trusty squire, Sancho Panza, set off on a quest for knighthood, love and chivalry.

In a role with three characters, Benjamin Rush is transforming as Don Quixote, Alonso Quijana and Cervantes. Appearing to truly believe in the quest of his silly knight, he also gets the chance to show off his musical talent in “The Impossible Dream” and “Man of La Mancha”. Kate Gordon stands out as the rough Aldonza, a “kitchen slut” seen as the ideal woman by Quixote, who calls her Dulcinea. Kate’s singing is full with the emotion of the role.

The Padre, played by Shawn Hebbeler, is a pleasant surprise. His initial concern for the motives of Alonso’s family (in “I’m Only Thinking of Him”) is finally softened in a beautiful eulogy after Quixote’s death (“The Psalm”). You can almost feel the genuine distaste of Dr. Sanson Carrasco (John Hancock) for Quixote and the confusion of the Governor/Innkeeper (Torey Scarbrough) at allowing this madman to inhabit his territory.

The set, tilted at an angle, helps with the various fight scenes and brawls, and the drawbridge adds a stern touch to the prison. A single, creative set is perfectly matched for the different settings of the play. The costumes also appear to be almost genuine.

There are some minor kinks to be worked out on the musical cues and choreography but, for the most part, the cast seems to work harmoniously during the complicated blocking for the brawls and dances. The transitions are awkward at times, but the difficulty of playing multiple roles seems to be no match for this ensemble.

It is hard to imagine some of the cast as high school students. As is West Orange’s motto, Man of La Mancha truly tries for “professional quality theatre”.

Originally published in the Backstage Noise, 2005