"Man of La Mancha" - A Review

Somehow I got through the Kanawha County school system and earned a Journalism Major and an English Minor at Marshall University without being assigned to read Cervantes' classic novel Don Quixote.

It's an oversight I've been trying to correct in recent weeks, as I finally got started on the copy of the novel I bought back in 1978.

It's been about the same length of time since the musical based on that book was last staged in Huntington, though sadly I missed that production.

Finally, I've made up for my missed opportunities by attending Saturday night's staging of Man of La Mancha by the 5th Avenue Theatre Company.

The flu kept me away last weekend, and I was certain that I was missing a great show, because everyone's been raving to me about how good the production is - and quite a few people have attended more than once - another sure sign of a terrific show.

And guess what? It is a great show! Presented as a "play-within-a-play," it begins with the incarceration of Cervantes as he prepares to face the Spanish Inquisition. His fellow prisoners threaten the destruction of his not-yet-completed manuscript of Don Quixote, and in an attempt to save his work, he offers to present the story to them and let them judge for themselves.

He tells the story of an old man who is so caught up with the story of knights and their heroic exploits that he decides to become one himself, and he recruits a servant, the endearing (if bumbling) Sancho Panza as his squire.

Despite his madness, wherein inns become castles, innkeepers become kings and whores become ladies of the court, Quixote sees the good in all and fights for a higher purpose - and his example changes the lives of those around him.

The secret to staging an outstanding show is to have a great cast, and here we have some of the area's top performers. The amazing Ryan Hardiman tackles both Cervantes and Don Quixote, and this gives him a chance to play a wide range of emotions - from the fearful Cervantes, faced with a terrible fate, to the aged by forceful Quixote, fighting against impossible odds, declaring his pure love for an unlikely woman, and facing his own infirmity. Ryan hits this one out of the park - and do I even have to mention his powerful singing on several classic songs?

Playing the gritty barmaid Aldonza is Marina Jurica, and it's difficult to imagine a more physically demanding or emotionally devastating role for any female actor. Her singing is terrific and her acting is phenomenal!

Sancho Panza is played by Mike Murdock, who absolutely kills in the role. His comic timing is right on the money, his songs are fantastic and he darn near steals every scene he's in.

Any director with a lick of sense should be begging these three actors to be in every show they stage.

Not to take away from the other dozen members of the cast - they all turn in outstanding work, and each one plays multiple roles. Kudos to: Jane Morse, Todd Preston, Nancy Jackson, Loretta Hetzer, Dave Benton, Kyle Fisher, Chloe Hardiman, Andrew Surber, Ron Short, Josh Taylor, Desiree Sowards and Ralph Pack.

I have to give a special shout-out to my pal Mike Campbell, the music director, who managed to take an electronic keyboard and make it sound like a full orchestra - an amazing accomplishment, with an assist from musician Mike Harbour!

Congratulations to the directing team on an amazing job, including director Eddie Harbert, producer Maxine Loudermilk, assistant director Merlyn Marten, choreographer Kerri Easter and everyone else involved.

It's a wonderful, moving show filled with memorable songs and an inspirational story - no wonder it's a classic.

Don't make the mistake I made all those years ago - you don't want too have to wait 30 years to see this one on stage!

You have one more chance Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. to catch this show at the Huntington City Hall auditorium - miss it not!