Birmingham Village Players’ ‘Man of La Mancha’ Revitalizes the Classic Musical
Who hasn’t heard of Don Quixote, the mad knight who sets off on grand adventures with his squire Sancho? While I have never read the novel by Miguel de Cervantes or seen any adaptation of the story up to this point, I have heard the name Don Quixote many times throughout my life. While I’ve been called that plenty of times as a child, pretending to set off on fantastical adventures with my friends, swinging sticks as swords, who exactly was Don Quixote, or more exactly, Alonso Quijano? Using the work of Cervantes and the 1959 teleplay I, Don Quixote, as a blueprint, the 1965 Broadway musical, Man of La Mancha, adapts Quixote’s noble quests, using a frame story to honor both the written word and the author who put pen to paper.
The work of Dale Wasserman, Mitch Leigh, and Joe Darion remains strong and true in Birmingham Village Players’ production of Man of La Mancha; however, it is examined through the unique lens of directors Roberta Campion and Sue Chekaway. Their distinct vision has thrust audiences into a vibrant world that is as colorful as it is dark and dingy. Don Quixote has never felt as alive as he does on this local stage, with the cast and crew working diligently to do this classic Broadway show justice. With an immersive set, layered and dynamic costumes, and a cast that understood the assignment, Birmingham Village Players has gone above and beyond to make Man of La Mancha special.
[Warning: Spoilers from Birmingham Village Players’ Man of La Mancha are below!]
A trial by journey begins the tale of Man of La Mancha
Instead of jumping straight into the world of Don Quixote, audiences initially join up with the author Miguel de Cervantes, with both “roles” played by Jude Purcell. Cervantes is thrown into prison, awaiting trial, along with his manservant (Michael A. Gravame). Cervantes has worn many hats in his life, including those of author, soldier, and actor, but it was that of a tax collector during the Spanish Inquisition that landed him in a dingy dungeon, having foreclosed on a monastery.
While either mercy or punishment awaits Cervantes and his manservant outside the door of the dungeon, he also faces a different kind of trial among the others shoved down into the hellhole as well. As the fellow prisoners rip his possessions from him, the leader of the group, aptly named The Governor (John Lamb), suggests a trial of his own. If Cervantes can rightly defend his case, then the prisoners will be required to return his possessions. However, if he fails, he loses everything in the world that means something to him, including his beloved manuscript.
Shockingly, Cervantes pleads guilty to the charges of being an idealist and a bad poet, but asks to provide a defense, which thrusts him into the story of Don Quixote and his squire, Sancho. As the story unfolds, the prisoners assume new roles within this evolving narrative. Within this new world, Alonso Quijana has lost his mind from reading so many books, which results in him adopting the persona of Don Quixote. Traversing the land looking for adventures, Quixote is constantly protecting the world from the likes of Giants and other evil creatures. While living in his delusion, he becomes infatuated with a barmaid, Aldonza (Jennifer Jones), whom he names his Dulcinea and pledges his allegiance to. Dancing through a world that doesn’t quite add up, Don Quixote is living his best life, which worries his family greatly. His niece Antonia (Audrey Fox) and her fiancé (Russell Boyle) will do anything to see their beloved Uncle Alonso returned to them.
As reality comes crashing into the mad knight’s delusions, it becomes an internal battle for Don Quixote. Can he live out his life as a knightly adventurer, or is he to return to his family and assume the name Alonso once again?
The immersive world of Man of La Mancha explodes on stage at Birmingham Village Players
Often, when attending a community theatrical experience, the show itself can feel scaled down for various reasons. Perhaps the company doesn’t have enough performers to make it feel robust, or there are limitations due to the size of the stage or the budget for the musical. This by no means makes the show bad or less than, but is just an indication of the realities of putting on a live show on a community level. However, Birmingham Village Players proved that wrong, giving a show that felt huge in every aspect.
From the moment you walk into the theater, you’re struck by how gigantic the stage appears, feelings bigger than what the building can hold. The crew has managed to create a set that feels so much like a dungeon that audiences are transported to a time long forgotten. The set itself is already so incredibly immersive that by the time the actors come out in their costumes, there’s no need to dispel any disbelief and dive into what Man of La Mancha is selling you.
It feels like a scene ripped right out of The Pirates of the Caribbean or a film with a similar structure, with every rich detail submerging the audience more deeply into the world, allowing the story to flow over them. From the stagecraft alone, Man of La Mancha is superb, with the actors only elevating the experience even more.
The passion that Jude Purcell has for this musical is apparent from the moment he first steps onto the stage. He slides so easily into the role that everyone in the audience could tell how much he was enjoying his time on stage. From the body language that changes fluidly depending on who he’s playing in the moment to the modulation in his voice, there was something magical about watching Purcell in the zone on stage.
Michael A. Gravame serves as one of the biggest sources of comedic relief, and boy, did he. The audience was eating up his every one-liner, of which there were quite a few, as Gravame brings much-needed levity to what can sometimes be a somber story. Gravame doesn’t play up to the audience’s laugh, but instead gives a balanced and nuanced performance as the sidekick who cares deeply for the hero.
However, the star of the show and scene stealer is none other than our Dulcinea herself, Jennifer Jones. Jones commands the stage with her presence, transforming the barmaid into a maiden with professional precision. Her performance in Man of La Mancha is intoxicating and one of the greatest reasons to see this show. Where Dulcinea might become two-dimensional in the wrong hands, Jones has created a multifaceted character who is powerful in her own right, even if it takes her a moment to realize it.
Man of La Mancha is a must-see season opener
Birmingham Village Players aren’t holding anything back with Man of La Mancha, which kicks off their 103rd season with a blast. If this show is any indication of what is coming from the rest of this season, audiences are in for a treat. Man of La Mancha has mass appeal, with a timeless story that is made even more fantastic by a talented cast, making it the perfect show to catch this weekend!
Man of La Mancha runs for one more weekend at Birmingham Village Players, so get your tickets now! Have you seen this production of Man of La Mancha? Let us know @BoxSeatBabes on all major social media platforms!
Exclusive Interview: Jude Purcell & Jennifer Jones of Birmingham Village Players’ Man of La Mancha
