Date: Fri 13-Jun-1997

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

Gateway's-La-Mancha-review

Full Text:

(rev "Man of La Mancha" at Gateway's, 6/13/97)

La Mancha A Super Season Opener

(with photo)

By Carol Fenn

NEW FAIRFIELD - Gateway's Candlewood Playhouse began its 1997 summer season

with a super start - the musical Man of La Mancha . Gateway's production,

which opened June 4, is riveting, tearful and exuberant. On opening night, it

was as if the audience exited the theatre feeling inspired by the triumph of

the human spirit.

Fans of the theatre may remember when Man of La Mancha was a hit on Broadway,

starring Richard Kiley in the title role. The New York Times has called Man of

La Mancha "a modern classic of the American stage, as vibrant and timeless as

ever, a brilliant stroke of theatre."

Man of La Mancha , written by Dale Wasserman, has the familiar songs "The

Impossible Dream," "Man of La Mancha" and "Dulcinea," plus so many others that

have transfixed audiences for years. The image of Don Quixote in tattered

armor with a twisted sword blazing to glory is memorable. So it is for

Candlewood Playhouse audiences.

The storyline is a blend of Miguel de Cervantes' life and written works. A

dark and foreboding dungeon during the Spanish Inquisition sets the stage with

a motley cast of characters. Cervantes is imprisoned for trial by the

Inquisition with his trusty sidekick Sancho Panza, and the angry and

belligerent prisoners put him on trial as well.

Cervantes must convince the inmates of his innocence of any crime by telling

his story of Don Quixote, an aged, delusioned man who pursues truth, chivalry

and knighthood against all evil.

In Gateway's production, actor Robert Aronson, as Cervantes, transforms

himself into Don Quixote with makeup, a twiggy mustache and beard and dented

armor. Before our eyes he suddenly becomes this larger-than-life character,

seeming to grow a foot taller.

Aronson's flawless performance is inspirational. The audience is carried away

with him into battles with windmills, a passionately spiritual love affair,

and unbeatable spirit.

A solid cast supports Aronson to create this wonderful piece of theatre. Gary

Marachek's portrayal of Quixote's faithful companion Sancho proves to be

comical and compassionate. Marachek's growly, loud voice and comic Lou

Costello antics are entertaining.

Alice Vienneau plays Aldonza, a rough and tumble serving wench whom Quixote

sees as a beautiful goddess. Vienneau's performance is charged with

electricity. She sprints around the stage, fighting and spitting, proving a

formidable challenge to Quixote's unstoppable faith and love.

Other notable performances that keep the story moving and believable are

Anthony Santelmo, David Craig Starkey, Jeff Gardner, and Sandal Shamas as a

Morrish dancer. All are well supported by the Muleteers, an energetic group of

actors that is the backbone of the performance.

The costumes designed by Chuck Batchelor are serviceable, and resident set

designer Michael Boyer has made an effective set but not a creative one.

Producers John Hodge and Paul Allan and director Sammy Dallas Bayes deserve

credit for successfully visualizing a vibrant production. The performance

moves at a crisp pace. And the telling of the tale is clear and direct.

Man of La Mancha plays through June 15. Tickets may be purchased by calling

the box office at 746-4441. Out of the area, the toll free number is 888/4-TIX

NOW. Gateway's Candlewood Playhouse is located at 25 Route 39 in New

Fairfield.

The Way We Were

Silver Alert For Blue McGrath Ended

Top Of The Mountain

Cargo Van Driver Taken To Hospital Following Collision With Gas Tanker

Knotweed Initiative Program Planned

Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 13-Jun-1997

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