An impossible dream hits High Street
By Julie Littman

Special to The Acor

Damian Gravino as Don Quixote

Theater on High Street in Moorpark took a step away from its trademark melodramas when “Man of La Mancha,” directed by Jeff Wallach, opened on July 9.

The musical honors the 400year anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes’ novel “Don Quixote,” known for its main character who literally lets his imagination run away with him.

If you’ve never read “Don Quixote,” don’t worry—you won’t be lost. Briefly, Don Quixote imagines that he’s a knight-to-be and embarks on a journey to prove himself worthy. The catch is, there hasn’t been a knight in his country for hundreds of years.

The musical takes place in a common prison room in Cuba where Miguel de Cervantes (Damian Gravino) awaits the Inquisition for his crime of putting a lien on a Catholic church. But, before his fate is sealed, a “jury” of his fellow prisoners brings him to trial where he reenacts the story of “Don Quixote” as his defense.

This is Gravino’s fourth performance as Don Quixote, which he has mastered in this current portrayal.

Marlon D. Robinson provides quirky lines and proverbs as Don Quixote’s faithful squire Sancho Panza, who picks up the pieces after his master gets into countless messes (i.e. losing a battle to a windmill). Robinson portrays Sancho beautifully and proves that even sidekicks can hold their notes in songs like “The Missive” and “I Really Like Him”

Along their journey, Don Quixote stops at an inn (a castle, according to the knight errant), where he discovers Aldonza (Candice Gray), who he takes to be his true love, his Dulcinea. As Aldonza/Dulcinea, Gray provides a strong performance as a not-sovirtuous maiden at the inn.

While Don Quixote hopes to woo his Dulcinea, his niece Antonia (Alysse Alcroft) and her husband Dr. Carrasco (Ross Araujo) wish to bring him home to settle a few matters relating to Don Quixote’s will—only thinking of him, of course.

The story touches upon the power of the imagination through Don Quixote’s insistence on seeing the world as he dreams it to be.

You won’t find elaborate sets or highly choreographed musical numbers here. Much like the prisoners on stage must imagine Cervantes’s story, the audience is left to imagine the scenery within the classic tale.

Overall, the performance is entertaining and well-staged. If anything, the transition from Cervantes to Don Quixote may have been smoothed out a bit–– Gravino had some trouble with his mustache.

In a nutshell: Take a break from reality and enjoy the depths of your imagination. It’s definitely more fun than watching a movie at home. But be aware that this musical may not be suited for young children, due to sexual innuendos and a fake fight scene.

“Man of La Mancha” continues with shows at 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., July 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30. Matinees at 2 p.m. are Sun., July 17 and 24.

The theatre is at 45 High St., Moorpark. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children.

For more information and tickets, call (805) 529-8700.