![\"Geoff](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/MLM130.jpg\")
<\/a>Geoff Elliott in the center. Photo by Craig Schwartz, as is the big one at the top of the page.<\/p><\/div>\n
I first saw the show when I was little girl, and I was totally confused by it. I didn\u2019t have a clue what was going on. [Note: It\u2019s not a show for kids.] Then I saw it again many years ago at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, and I was just as confused as I was when I was younger. And that would\u2019ve been the case this time, as well, but for the uber-helpful program notes. The storyline takes the already-crazy tale of Don Quixote and makes it even nuttier by involving the Spanish Inquisition. So I really have to thank this company for the \u201cSummary\u201d and \u201cCharacter Map\u201d because there’s so much going on in this show!<\/p>\n
My very first note on opening night was that I would\u2019ve rather seen it the original<\/em> way that it was presented on Broadway and in most subsequent productions, rather than this little bit more modern take on it, but in the end I don\u2019t think it mattered very much. I\u2019m no Man of La Mancha<\/em> expert, but I believe the difference came down to just the modern prison costumes and contemporary props, such as a lot<\/em> of plastic bags. But if this is the first time that you\u2019re seeing the show, just don\u2019t judge those components, thinking that that\u2019s how it looked originally. Just pay attention to the stunning live music, score, and performances. And story.<\/p>\n Speaking of the story, this is not<\/em> the true story of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote<\/em>. That part is all imaginary on the part of the playwright. (I really hate anyone misrepresenting real-life events and people, but what are you going to do. That’s what confuses me about this show, though.)<\/p>\n Geoff Elliott and Kasey Mahaffy. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n The beautiful songs are due to the original composers, but the other good aspects of what I saw at A Noise Within are all to the credit of this company. I was especially happy to see Kasey Mahaffy perform again. He was the stand-out actor in their recent production of\u00a0Noises Off<\/em>, and since this is mainly a repertory company, I was really hoping that he would be in this one, too. But I didn’t see how they could fit a ginger into this beyond old school scenario. But fit him in they did…as Sancho Panza! Now, that\u2019s what I call creative casting! I usually am not<\/em> a fan of that kind of casting, actually, but in this one case, I applaud it. Kasey brought what I\u2019m learning is his usual humor to the otherwise-mainly-dreary show.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the stunning\u00a0iconic\u00a0music\u2014I\u2019ve been hearing Dulcinea<\/em> in my head since the second I got home…almost a week ago!!! But it\u2019s made even better by this fabulous orchestra. Their location in the theatre is also<\/em> creative–they\u2019re in the back<\/em> of the auditorium, high above the assemblage, and off to the side. But the music somehow sounds like it’s coming from exactly where it’s supposed to be. And I love, love, love those Spanish guitars!!!<\/p>\n Jeremy Rabb in the center. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n I did<\/em> make the mistake of listening to The Impossible Dream<\/em>, sung by the incredible Richard Kiley, (the star of the original Broadway show,) earlier that day, so, of course, anyone<\/em> was going to pale in comparison. But Geoff Elliott, who plays Cervantes and Don Quixote here, really sells this song as the character<\/em>, which I really appreciated, as I\u2019m sure all<\/em> audiences will.<\/p>\n My favorite voice was a surprise to me. It belongs to Jeremy Rabb, who portrays the priest. He doesn\u2019t have many songs, but the little bit of singing that he does<\/em> do is beautiful.<\/p>\n I was just a tad confused as to why only a couple of lines of the charming ditty, A Little Gossip<\/em>, were sung. Was there an opening night glitch? Or perhaps I just blacked-out for two minutes or so. I kept waiting for them to continue it! Or maybe they cut it waaay down to keep the show just under two hours, which it is, with no intermission. (But no worries about sitting still that long in a row–it does<\/em> move right along.)<\/p>\n Cassandra Marie Murphy (as Aldonza\/Dulcinea) and Geoff Elliott. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n A Noise Within really makes full use of their thrust* stage for this show. And the prop and \u201cscenery\u201d moves are so subtle that I didn\u2019t even notice the background changing when it did, which was often. So major kudos to them for that bit of innovation. [Note: In case you\u2019re not familiar with the term, a \u201cthrust stage\u201d is one that extends into the audience on three sides, as opposed to the usual stay-away-from-the-audience one that\u2019s in most Broadway-type theatres.]<\/p>\n All in all, Man of La Mancha<\/em> is a theatre experience I can’t imagine anyone not<\/em> enjoying. So hurry out to Pasadena to see it while you have this marvelous opportunity.<\/p>\n Man of La Mancha<\/em> running through September 9, 2018<\/strong> MAN OF LA MANCHA I\u2019ve seen this classic musical only two other times in my life, and it just didn\u2019t call out to me. So, I was a bit hesitant to give it another whirl. But I\u2019m so glad I did because A Noise Within\u2019s production of Man of La Mancha is definitely worth seeing.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n A Noise Within 3352 E. Foothill Blvd. Pasadena 626-356-3121 www.anoisewithin.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"