Man of La Mancha

[Halna LeGavilk]

I'm guessing this goes here. I just saw Man of La Mancha at the local arts center. I loved it. Here's a link to the review (http://www.starbeacon.com/entertainment/local_story_168172636.html). I talk about it a bit in my blog, mostly the morals of it (http://halnalegavilk.blogspot.com/)(warning, strong language), but here I want to talk about the musical itself.

My favorite song was "Impossible Dream", or at least that's what I think it's called. The show was really uplifting. I'm not sure if that's what it always is, but I just think it was a really good show.

Have you guys seen it (not necessarily at this particular arts center, but anywhere) and what did you think of it?

[Verruckt]

I've got a 78 of the original cast sitting in my room and the WoW guild I was in while I played was called [The Knights of the] Woeful Countenance if that's any indication

[Blackjackg]

I've only ever seen the film (the one with Peter O'Toole), but I've got a couple of different casts singing it on stage. I think it's a fantastic musical, but the film has garnered some pretty poor reviews.

I suppose I connect most strongly to "The Impossible Dream," most likely because my father used to sing it to me as a lullabye when I was an infant. But I'm a big fan of many of the songs, particularly "I, Don Quixote," "To Each His Dulcinea," and "Aldonza."

"Dulcinea" is great too, if only because it's a love song written for a non-tenor, and those are pretty rare.

[Mando Knight]

I love this musical.
*Starts singing "I, Don Quixote"* (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS8rpt1y6lk)

Obligatory xkcd link (http://xkcd.com/556/)

[skywalker]

I think it's alright. My high school did it the year after I graduated. The costume designer was poor and most of the budget was blown on renting specific pieces of costume from the broadway version. This was done much more effectively 2 years before when they rented the plant for Little Shop of Horrors. A plot-centric prop element? A good buy. A tangential piece of costume for a supporting character in one scene? Not such a good buy.

I found the musical decent, I've never particularly enjoyed the end of the Don Quixote story... So perhaps I hold that prejudice against the show. But I vastly preferred the show before the gypsies show up. After that, it gets a little crappy, in my opinion.

[averagejoe]

Never cared much for the musical. I much prefer an alternative interpretation. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_U7XmwO7ts)

[JonestheSpy]

One of my favorite musicals. I like it because it's much more morally complex then it first appears. One one hand, to dream the impossible dream seems likje the best way one can live one's life, on the other that could well mean getting your ass handed to you or worse - Aldonza is raped by the ones she is inspired by Quixote to be merciful to, don't forget.

The play is all about the tension between idealism and reality, and the danger of both extremes. But as cynicism and mundane practicality are so easy to fall into, it's a great booster for remembering to dream.

Great music , of course. And really, it's very very difficult not to fall in love at least a little with Aldonza...