 Monterey Herald, Monterey, California Pacific
Repertory Theatre opens season When Ken Kelleher chooses a production to direct,
the first thing he looks for is a compelling story. That's why Kelleher,
artistic director of Pacific Repertory Theatre, chose to open the 2009
season with Dale Wasserman's musical, "Man of La Mancha." This
enduring classic officially opens Saturday, with two discount previews
tonight Lauded with five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this play was adapted from the 17th-century novel "The Adventures of Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes. In this mythic tale of romance, chivalry and "impossible dreams," the author becomes one of his own characters, imprisoned during the Spanish Inquisition. Cervantes creates a play within a play as he tells his fellow inmates the story of the gallant knight Don Quixote while the prisoners join in, acting out Quixote's quest to fight evildoers across Spain. "This is the first musical I've directed, so I wanted to choose something with a powerful story," said Kelleher. "'Don Quixote' is a timeless classic of aspiration, hope and the power of believing in something greater than yourself. When Wasserman adapted this to a musical, he couldn't have started with a more powerful piece of fiction." Paul Myrvold and Lydia Lyons will star in the lead roles of Don Quixote and Aldonza. Musical Director David Gordon will perform in the role of the Padre as well as play the guitar. Classical musician Terrence Farrell will be featured as lead guitarist and will also play the role of one of the prisoners. Rather than performing this piece as is traditionally done on a proscenium stage with a large cast in a large theater, Kelleher is directing his cast of 12 in the Circle Theatre — an intimate theater in the round. "The intimacy helps to enforce the situation," said Kelleher. "The small theater makes the experience more immediate to the audience." The small space also makes the production effectively "chamberized." There is no pit orchestra; the actors themselves play the music on stage. This seems a challenge to cast; not only must the performers be able to act, but also sing and play an instrument. Kelleher considers himself lucky to have found the talent he has. "David (Gordon) and Terrence (Ferrell) are the nucleus of the play. Lydia (Lyons) is an incredibly gifted and evocative performer." "I'm very fortunate to have Paul (Myrvold)," said Kelleher. "He's done the role in eight different productions over the span of 30 years. He brings great depth, perception and sensitivity to this character, but he's also eager to experiment with this role in a new setting." Myrvold was attracted to the idea of playing his eighth role as Quixote in a theater in the round. "You can see the audience across the way from you. It's like being in a big living room. It's very intimate. I'll be seeing individuals, turning them into fellow inmates in the prison. One of the reasons I was excited to do this was the excessive creativity it takes to shoehorn such an expansive production into a small space." He explained that what you lose in expansiveness, you gain in nuance. "It allows for a cinematic style of acting. In front of an audience of 4,000 people, your gestures are larger, vocal patterns are louder and more obvious. In the smaller space, it's a matter of pulling it in — a more subtle approach." For both director and actors, the challenge of working in a theater in the round is staging. "Your back will be to one part of the audience at any one time so you have to move in order to give maximum exposure to maximum audience," said Myrvold. "You're changing constantly. This requires creative stage craft." For example, when Myrvold transforms Cervantes into Don Quixote, he usually sits on a stationary stool in front of an audience with a makeup kit in front of him that he uses to hollow his cheekbones and apply beard pieces. "In this case, I have the prisoners help me, holding my makeup tray as I do one part, spin on my chair, do another part and then spin again. If I'm taking a long, high note like in 'The Impossible Dream,' when I'm reaching to see the stars I'll take a 360-degree turn so everyone can catch that note." Although he's played this role so many times, Myrvold said he never tires of it. "Each time I learn more; it gets deeper and broader. It's like doing a Shakespeare production, 'Hamlet' or 'King Lear.' People will watch it again and again and I can do it again and again. Each time it becomes deeper, more profound." "It's always different because the people are different — the actors are different, the theater is different, the audience is different. It happens moment by moment. Each moment is new. That's the miracle of live theater. The audience's imagination and the actors' imagination meet somewhere in the middle." Lily Dayton can be reached at monterey baylily@gmail.com. Information What: Pacific Repertory Theatre presents Dale Wasserman's "Man of La Mancha" · Where: Circle Theatre of the Golden Bough Playhouse, Casanova Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues, Carmel · When: Previews at 7:30p.m. Thursday, April 2, and Friday, April 3; opens at 7:30p.m. Saturday, April 4; continues at 7:30p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2p.m. for Saturday and Sunday matinees through Sunday, April 26; no Sunday matinee April 12, no Saturday matinee April 25 · Tickets: Discounted previews, discounted shows with FlexPass. General admission $16-$38, with discounts for seniors/students/ military/children; available at The Golden Bough Box Office, Monte Verde between Eighth and Ninth avenues, Carmel (open Tuesday through Saturday, 11a.m.-4p.m.) Also available by calling 622-0100 or online at www.pacrep.org · Information: 622-0100 or online at www.pacrep.org © Monterey County Herald and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.montereyherald.com |
(Thursday)
and Friday at the Circle Theatre of the Golden Bough Playhouse in Carmel.