A Review

Sally Forth

By R. J. Donovan

Lyric Stage Company of Boston is kicking off its Fall season (as well as the 10th anniversary of its Producing Artistic Director Spiro Veloudos) with an enthusiastic and thoughtfully conceived production of "Man of La Mancha."

Set in the 16th century, La Mancha" tells the tale of Miguel de Cervantes, an actor, soldier, poet and tax collector, who, with his manservant, has been tossed into a dungeon by The Spanish Inquisition.  His crime? Foreclosing on a church.

As he awaits trial, he's pounced upon by his fellow prisoners, with whom he shares a sort of legal limbo as they all await their moment in front of The Inquisition. They steal his possessions, including a treasured manuscript. 

In an effort to save his written word from destruction, he offers to act out the story for them as a defense for letting him keep the piece.  As well, he enlists their help in portraying the characters.  The story is that of the delusional but ever-optimistic knight, Don Quixote -- the Man of La Mancha. Is he truly mad? In his own words, it is madness to see the world as it is rather than as it should be.

Leading the company at Lyric is Christopher Chew (at left with Caroline deLima), who plays both Cervantes and Quixote. With a bit of crude make-up and makeshift props, he transforms himself from one to the other with stunning clarity.  As the story unfolds, it's often easy to forget that Cervantes is still there beneath the trembling triumphs of the heroic Quixote. (And of course, it's Chew shaping both layers simultaneously.)

Chew's voice soars when it needs to and questions when it has to.  He also jumps the inevitable hurdle of presenting the show's signature number, "The Impossible Dream" -- a song which, like "Memory" and "Send in the Clowns," has suffered overexposure everywhere from off-pitch lounge singers to The Ice Capades. Here, however, the dialogue that leads up to the song is so artfully presented by Chew that the music, lyrics and performance are a natural and believable progression in revealing the character. 

Veloudos, who directed the production with a subtle hand, has made great use of the thrust performance area, aided by lighting designer Scott Clyve and set designer Janie E. Howland who've created a subterranean hole of a dungeon.

The show contains several shining supporting performances including Kenneth Harmon as the Padre, Maurice Emmanuel Parent as the Duke, Mala Bhattacharya as Quixote's niece, Timothy John Smith as the leering Pedro, J. T. Turner as the Innkeeper and Caroline deLima as the whorish Aldonza, who Quixote envisions as the Lady Dulcinea.  The jewel of the show is Robert Saoud, first as the manservant, and then as Sancho, sidekick to Quixote. 

The last challenge for all arrives during the final moments of the evening. Everything that's come before has to connect solidly with the audience if the ending is to have any impact, and happily, it does. 

It's almost impossible not to fight a lump in your throat as the music swells and Cervantes and Sancho depart to face their fate.

"Man of La Mancha"is at Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon Street in Boston, through October 13. For information, call 617-585-5678.

-- OnStage Boston

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