 Event |
Man of La Mancha
|
| Venue |
Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, VIC |
| First Date |
31 October 1970 |
| Last Date |
February 1971 |
| Dates Estimated |
No |
| Status |
Professional |
| World Premiere |
No |
| Part of a Tour |
Yes |
| Description |
In the late sixteenth century, failed author-soldier-actor and tax collector Miguel de Cervantes has been thrown into a dungeon by the Spanish Inquisition, along with his manservant. They have been charged with foreclosing on a monastery. Their fellow prisoners attack them, eager to steal the contents of the large trunk Cervantes has brought with him. However, a sympathetic criminal known as "the Governor" suggests setting up a mock trial instead. Only if Cervantes is found guilty will he have to hand over his possessions. A cynical prisoner, known as "the Duke," charges Cervantes with being an idealist and a bad poet. Cervantes pleads guilty, but then asks if he may offer a defense, in the form of a play, acted out by him and all the prisoners. The "Governor" agrees.
Cervantes takes out a makeup kit and costume from his trunk, and transforms himself into Alonso Quijano, an old gentleman who has read so many books of chivalry and thought so much about injustice that he has lost his mind and set out as a knight-errant. Quijano renames himself Don Quixote de La Mancha, and goes off to find adventures with his "squire", Sancho Panza. ("Man of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote)")
Don Quixote warns Sancho that they are always in danger of being attacked by Quixote's mortal enemy, an evil magician known as the Enchanter. Suddenly he spots a windmill, mistakes it for a four-armed giant, attacks it, and receives a beating from the encounter. Quixote decides that he lost the battle because he was never properly knighted. He then mistakes a rundown inn for a castle and orders Sancho to announce their arrival by blowing his bugle. |
| Primary Genre |
Music Theatre
|
| Secondary Genre |
Musical
|
| Organisations |
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| Contributors |
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| Resources |
|
| Works |
|
| Text Nationality |
United States of America
|
| Production Nationality |
Australia
|
| Further Information |
J C Williamson collection, PROMPT Collection: 1967 commencing 30 September, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne; 1968 commencing 10 February, Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney; 1968 commencing 14 June, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane; 1968 commencing 20 July, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide; 1970 commencing 6 August, His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland; 1970 commencing 31 October, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne;
|
| Event Status |
Completed
|
| Data Source |
| Source |
Description |
| Newspaper |
|
|
| Event Identifier |
126560 |
| Dataset |
AusStage |
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