Auroraadvocate.com - Stirring musical concludes theater's 2008-09 season

Photo courtesy of Weathervane Playhouse Sancho Panza (played by Ian Haberman) tries to explain to Aldonza (played by Rebecca Marks) why he is so loyal to Don Quixote.

Photo courtesy of Weathervane Playhouse Tom Barnes plays the idealistic eccentric Don Quixote in Weathervane Playhouse’s version of the musical “Man of La Mancha.”

by April Helms

Special Products Editor

Chivalry and idealism still live on through "Man of La Mancha," the final show of Weathervane Playhouse's 2008-09 season.

This well-known musical, based on the novel "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), may have opened on Broadway more than 40 years ago, but the story has worn well. And who hasn't heard what is perhaps the best-known song in the play, "The Impossible Dream?"

"This is one of my favorite plays," said Telsha Curry of Akron after the June 13 show. "It's a well-written play. No matter who stars in it, it holds the audience's attention. There's a good deal of humor as well as sentiment. I thought the set was beautiful and the singing was quite good. I was wondering if some of the performers were aiming for a professional career."

"The Man of La Mancha" is a play within a play, set in a dungeon. The Weathervane stage includes an impressive drop-down staircase when the Captain of the Inquisition (played by Mike Groom) comes down, either to bring prisoners down or to take them away for "questioning." The staircase stays there throughout, a sort of reminder about the seriousness of the setting.

Cervantes (played by Tom Barnes) has been brought down to the dungeon along with his servant Sancho Panza (played by Ian Haberman) for trying to foreclose on a church. The other prisoners, led by the gruff but good-natured "Governor" (played by Bogdan Pecic) try to steal Cervantes' belongings. Cervantes is especially upset over their wanting to burn his manuscript. The prisoners conduct a sort of trial, where Cervantes must stand accused of their charges. He pleads his case by acting out his story, becoming his character Don Quixote and he enlists the other prisoners to play other roles.

The cast includes Rebecca Marks as Aldonza/Dulcinea; Jackson Sturkey, Aaron Keen and Frank Castorena as muleteers; Nicole Ellesin as the Inkeeper's wife; Sarah Bailey as Antonia, Don Quixote's niece; Sarah Anne Edwards as Quixote's"housekeeper; Donny Ellesin as The Padre; and Jeff Bixby as the Barber; Eddie Nabring pulls double duty as the music director and as the Duke/Dr. Carrasco. Hannah Drake and Tiffany Battet play prisoners; and the onstage band includes Malachy Rodriquez on trumpet; Beth Thompson on flute; and Michael Curtis on guitar.

Ticket and show information

"Man of La Mancha" runs through June 28. Performance days and times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $23; $20 tickets for seniors and college students are available for Thursday and Sunday performances. Tickets for children ages 17 or younger are $18.50.

For tickets, call the Weathervane box office at 330-836-2626 or visit www.weathervaneplayhouse.com online.

E-mail: ahelms@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3153