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