Robert Goulet, eat your heart out

Man of La Mancha

Pittsburgh Public Theater

Starring Brian Sutherland and…

Man of La Mancha

Pittsburgh Public Theater

Starring Brian Sutherland and Avery Saltzman

Directed and choreographed by Ted Pappas

Through March 2

(412) 316-1600

Most people fall into one of two categories: those who enjoy musicals, and those who don’t. “Man of La Mancha,” a musical now playing at the Public Theater, will be enjoyed by those in both categories.

“Man of La Mancha,” based on a book written by Dale Wasserman, is a strong play by itself. Add a richly talented cast and a raw yet precise set, and you have a wonderfully well-rounded production.

The play begins with rhythmic and frightening pounding of a drum that signals the presence of the captain of the Spanish Inquisition, a powerful man who holds the fate of many lives in his hands. A large, rickety staircase slowly and ominously lowers from above, and Miguel de Cervantes along with his manservant descend into the prison.

The two step off the mobile staircase, which immediately rises back up, and stand around awkwardly, obviously out of place. Cervantes, played powerfully by Brian Sutherland, and his servant, played wonderfully by Avery Saltzman, appear to have little in common with their new neighbors who consist of murderers and thieves.

The older prisoners, led by the governor, played by theater veteran Jeffrey Howell, inform Cervantes and his follower that in order to remain in the prison, they must survive a trial conducted by their fellow prisoners. Cervantes embraces this, while his more cowardly servant demonstrates his fear.

Cervantes convinces his fellow prisoners to allow his defense to take the form of entertainment, for he is a poet and a playwright himself. And before the audience’s eyes, Cervantes transforms into a character of his own creation, the self-proclaimed Don Quixote of La Mancha.

His servant plays Sancho, Don Quixote’s right-hand man, as Don Quixote is plagued by a form of insanity in which he strives to right the wrongs of his world, to “dream the impossible dream.” The other prisoners all participate, portraying various characters in this play within a play, and the story of Don Quixote unfolds.

The reality of prison life breaks into Cervantes’ creation every now and then, creating juxtaposition between the lack of control the prisoners have over their actual fates and the utter power of determination they have in their self-created production.

The beautiful songs throughout the play are set against classic Spanish guitar melodies, contributing to the Spartan atmosphere created by the seemingly rough and rusty set.

Sutherland delivers a spine-tingling performance as the audience witnesses him transform from Cervantes to Don Quixote and back to Cervantes. Everything about him, from his posture to his speech, changes with his character alterations.

Saltzman receives countless chuckles with his energetic and quirky performance of the sprightly Sancho/servant. Aldonza, Don Quixote’s intense love interest played by Terry Kelly, manages to convey an aura of power and helplessness, emotion and numbness simultaneously.

The entire supporting cast falls gently into their various roles, pulling the production together and contributing greatly to the overall masterpiece.

“Man of La Mancha” is a musical far from what many are used to with Stephen Sondheim or Rodgers and Hammerstein. Nonetheless, it creates a place for itself with other classics, and the Public Theater’s current version is professional, emotional and endlessly entertaining.