Man of LaMancha (1976)

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Elm Street Jr. High School Auditorium November 19-21, 1976

About "MAN OF LAMANCHA"

"MAN OF LAMANCHA" is not, strictly speaking, an adaptation of "DON QUIXOTE" at all. It is an original work that deals with a crucial few hours in the life of Cervantes. "MAN OF LAMANCHA" might most conveniently be described as a musical within a play, but in truth its originality of form defies classification.

Miguel De Cervantes, aging and an utter failure in his varied careers as playwright, poet, and tax collector for the government, has been thrown into a dungeon in Seville to await trial by the Inquisition for an offense against the Church. There he is hailed before a kangaroo court of his fellow prisoners: thieves, cutthroats and trollops who propose to confiscate his meagre possessions. One of these possessions is the uncompleted manuscript of a novel called "DON QUIXOTE", and Cervantes, seeking to save it, proposes to offer a defense in the form of an entertainment which will explain himself and his attitude toward life. The "Court" accedes, and before their eyes, donning makeup and costume, Cervantes and his faithful manservant transform themselves into Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, proceeding to play out the story with the involvement and participation of the prisoners as other characters.

Quixote and Sancho take to the road in a campaign to restore the Age of Chivalry, to battle evil and right all wrongs. While Quixote and his squire are en route to a distant roadside inn - which the Don insists to Sancho is really a castle - Aldonza, the inn's serving girl and part time trollop, is propositioned and taunted by a group of rough muleteers. Upon arrival at the inn, Quixote, in his splendid if lunatic vision, sees Aldonza as the dream-ideal whom he will worship and serve evermore. Aldonza is confused amp; angered by Quixote's refusal to recognize her for what she really is.

In the country home which Quixote left behind, his niece Antonia and his Housekeeper seek out the neighborhood padre to consider how this madness may best be dealt with. The Padre and Dr. Sanson Carrasco, Antonia's fiance, are delegated to pursue the madman and bring him back home. Meanwhile, Quixote dispatches Sancho to Aldonza with a "Missive" declaring his everlasting devotion to Dulcinea and while Quixote is standing vigil in the courtyard of the inn in preparation for his official dubbing as a knight, Aldonza accosts him directly, asking "What do you want of me?".

The Padre and Dr. Carrasco, having failed in their mission, grimly plan a new attempt to bring Quixote to his senses. The Padre hopes that "the cure will not prove worse than the disease". At this point, replying to Aldonza's question about doing the things he does, Quixote explains he must follow his Quest. Aldonza then encounters the Muleteers loafing near the courtyard well, and they tease and taunt her. Following the Padre's and Dr. Carrasco's departure, Quixote defends Aldonza's honor in a successful battle with the Muleteers, and as his reward is formally knighted by the Innkeeper.

Now, having caught the fever of Quixote's idealism, Aldonza attempts to put into practice, but for her efforts she is cruelly beaten and carried off by the muleteers. Disillusioned, Aldonza passionately denounces Quixote and his dreams, which have brought her only anguish. Now appears "The Enchanter", fantastically costumed as the Knight of the Mirrors. He challenges Quixote to combat, forcing him to look into the Mirror of Reality where Quixote sees reflected a fool and a madman. Quixote is defeated.. but Aldonza, a witness to his destruction, feels a deep sense of loss.

At home again, the old man who once called himself Don Quixote is dying. His faithful manservant, who has been his Sancho, attempts to cheer him up. Aldonza, having followed, forces her way into the room, pleads with him to become Don Quixote once more and restore the vision of glory she held so briefly. As she helps him recall the words, Quixote, stirred to the old fire, rises from his bed so that he, Sancho, and Aldonza may once more set out upon their mission. But in the moment of reaffirmation, he collapses, dying. Aldonza, having seen the vision once more, refuses to acknowledge Quixote's death. When Sancho questions her, she replies, "My name is Dulcinea". Quixote, having considered her throughout as individual of unique worth and value, has literally transformed her.

Back in Cervantes' dungeon, the prisoners, dregs of humanity though they are, have been deeply affected by his story and restore to him his precious manuscript, and as he leaves to face his real trial, they unite to sing the words of Cervantes - Quixote's "The Quest".

ANOTHER MILESTONE

In this Bicentennial year, The Actorsingers optimistically look to the future with an occasional glance backward. It has been sometime since those early shows at the Church of the Good Shepherd. For twenty-two years, this organization has managed to produce two major musicals and one children's show each year; often not knowing where the time, staff, dollars or space would come from.

We take this occasion to tell you about our next milestone-a "home" of our own where we can be together under one roof for rehearsals, meetings, drama and music classes, costume storage, set design, and all technical phases of theatre production.

The St. Joseph School Annex building on nearby Lake Street was made available to us recently at reasonable cost and we plan to occupy this property by December 1st.

We look upon our headquarters as a community enterprise. We do not expect annual drives but shall remain self-sustaining with your continued support and patronage. Performances will remain here at the Elm St. Jr. High School.

However, as we strive to raise the capital funds needed to purchase this property, please consider a personal donation of any size that will assist us in attaining our $50,000 goal.

It is our constant hope to be a vital part of our community's cultural scene and to bring fine muscial theatre to the Greater Nashua area for many years to come.

Thank you for your continued interest in Actorsingers.

Lorraine Graham, President

The Actorsingers are very happy to announce that the Spring 1977 show will be
The KING and I
to be performed here, on May 6,7,8, 1977