CenterPoint’s Man of La Mancha is Magnifico!

By Perry and Cindy Whitehair

Perry and I braved Tuesday nights dust/wind storm to go to CenterPoint Legacy Theatre’s production of Dale Wasserman’s Man of LaMancha , a trek that every theater lover should make.  The musical (music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion) was made popular in 1972 when Peter O’Toole starred in a movie version of this delightful musical.

Miguel de Cervantes, an aging playwright, tax collector and poet, is jailed during the Spanish Inquisition for daring to tax the church as the citizens are taxed.  His fellow prisoners “try” him first in a kangaroo court for the crime of being an idealist and an honest man – to which he pleads guilty.  For his defense he, with the help of his manservant and the other prisoners, puts on a diversion – a play about Alanso Quijana (played by Gary Sorenson) who believes he is actually Don Quixote – a knight errant.  A man of chivalry, Don Quixote is a believer in all that is true and good and just in a very cruel and ugly and unjust world.  Accompanied by his squire Sancho Panza (played by Josh Curtis), his journey brings him to a “castle” – really a rough inn – where he meets Aldonza/Dulcinea  (played by Sunny Bringhurst)– his ideal woman.  The play centers around Quijana and his madness and how it impacts his family, the denizens of the inn and especially Aldonza.

Sorenson’s Cervantes/Quijana/Quixote was a delight.  Each character had its own distinct flavor. His Cervantes was at once apprehensive and brave – doing all that was necessary to save his precious manuscript.  Whereas Quijana was the frail old man who had seen too much bad in his life and he preferred to keep alive the memory of better days in the stronger, more confident Quixote.  An innocent in a rough world, the often confused and weak Quixote still managed to bring an air of gentility to the inn that appealed to those around him.  His strong vocals soared through the openings “I, Don Quixote” and the showcase “The Impossible Dream.”

Josh Curtis played the buffoonery of Sancho Panza brilliantly, although I was a little disappointed with his vocals in “I’m Sancho” and “The Impossible Dream.”  The beautiful harmonies between Quixote and Panza in those two songs were unbalanced.  I would have loved to hear his notes more to contrast with Quixote’s melody.

I have to admit, Sunny Bringhurst’s Aldonza grew on me.  In the first act, I was not connecting emotionally with her character, but by the end of the second act, she had me in tears as she was mourning the loss of a man who brought beauty and decency into her life.

I was very impressed with the talent of the actors that brought the supporting characters to life.  They all put a lot of heart into their character.  I especially loved Chuck Gilmore (Governor/InnKeeper), Brad Schroeder (Duke/Dr. Carrasco), Brian Hahn (Padre), Jessica Benson (Antonia) and Tamara Sleight (The Housekeeper).  The trio “I’m Only Thinking of Him” with Hahn, Benson and Sleight was wickedly funny and beautifully harmonically balanced. I have seen Man of LaMancha in the past and in the other productions, this was essentially a “throw away” song, but it was my favorite of the show last night.  It truly stood out.
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One of the big challenges of having an ensemble the size of this one on stage at all times is keeping focused on the main action.  There were a couple of times in the show where a few members of the ensemble looked like their mind was elsewhere.

We simply cannot rave enough about the set (Scott Van Dyke and Jay Clark Jr.)  When the curtain came up on the Spanish dungeon for the opening it was breathtakingingly dank and depressing.  The drawbridge/ramp up to the dungeon entrance–complete with water–was absolute genius.  Perry was impressed with the adaptability of the set pieces, especially the two inn benches that converted into dual “confessionals” for “I’m Only Thinking of Him”.  The lighting design by Mark Rencher helped add to the feel that we really were looking in on a dungeon.  The costuming (Jen Richardson) was outstanding as well.  All in all, the pro team for this show deserves major kudos.  They had a chance to shine in this show and they did!

Our experience at CenterPoint was again a fantastic one.  Their front house staff is marvelously professional and courteous and the venue is beautiful.  It is a venue that all theater lovers should try to hit at least once a year – and this show is well worth the drive from anywhere in the valley .

CenterPoint Legacy Theatre presents Man of LaMancha by Dale Wasserman.  Performances are Monday through Saturday evenings at 7:30pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2:30pm.  Tickets are $22.00 for Main Level Seats, $21.00 Balcony on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings or $20.00 Main Level , $19.00 Balcony for Tuesday, Thursday evenings and Saturday matinee performances.  Tickets can be purchased online, in person or over the phone.  The box office is open 10AM- 6PM Monday through Saturday.

CenterPoint Legacy Theatre

525 N 400 W, Centerville, UT 84014

801-298-1302

http://www.centerpointtheatre.org/project/box-office/