…And it returns in a big way in the small and cozy venue of the Skokie Theatre. And to be clear, chivalry still lives and breathes on the stage during the performance of Man of La Mancha. 

 

This moving and entertaining MadKap production is persuasively and effectively directed by Stephen M. Genovese. The orchestra was nicely balanced with an excellent sound level, not to mention well positioned with the percussion and cello playing from the stage. Kudos to Aaron Kaplan (Musical Direction).

 

This is the time honored story of Don Quixote, who fights windmills posing as dragons, and defends his perfect lady Dulcinea, who is a whorish woman named Aldonza. He has been thrown into a dungeon along with Sancho, his manservant.. He has been detained for lampooning the Spanish Inquisition. He is subjected to a mock trial and loses most of his belongings.He manages to save a mysterious manuscript, some costumes and makeup. And at this point, the story of Don Quixote begins.

 

Going back to the MadKap production, the actors put on an awesome performance. We particularly enjoyed the work of Victoria Olivier (Sancho), Rachel Carreras (Aldonza/Dulcinea) and Margaret Garofalo (Padre). But again, the entire cast did a top of the line job of presenting the story and keeping the rhythm and flow good and strong.

 

All in all, in the midst of the horrors and atrocities of human against human, there can still be found beauty within. In this day and age we need all the Don Quixotes we can get. And we need all the Impossible Dreams that can be mustered. In the darkness of the theater, those impossible dreams seem real, if only for a short time, if the production is first-rate and most satisfying… and this one is all that.

 

 

Shelly Berry

Scott Kirshenbaum