Date: Fri 27-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: CHRISL

Illustration: C

Location: A10

Quick Words:

Shubert-theatre-Mancha-Goulet

Full Text:

(rev "Man of La Mancha" @Shubert, 9/27/96)

A Standing Ovation For Goulet & Shubert's "Mancha"

BY JUNE APRIL

NEW HAVEN - Recent television ads have shown streams of people coming out of a

theatre, smiling broadly and telling the interviewer how terrific their

evening had been. Well, that's the way it was at the latest opening night at

New Haven's Shubert Performing Arts Center on September 24, only people were

nodding and commenting to one another, humming the show's wonderful melodies

and clearly happy to have seen one of the all-time great Broadway musicals:

Man of La Mancha .

There was a standing ovation for Robert Goulet, who plays the dual role of

16th Century writer/poet Miguel de Cervantes and his fictional knight errant,

Don Quixote. In this production the parts were no less (somewhat

mathematically speaking) than the whole.

The cast is a fine and strong one, and over half of the 22 cast members have

had some previous association with one production or another of Man of La

Mancha .

Mr Goulet is one of the brighter stars in the performing profession, and his

credits go on for pages and pages, citing over sixty record albums,

television, cinema, stage and personal appearances. What stood out for this

reviewer were the resonant tones of both his singing and speaking voice and

the way in which he paced himself.

Having seen this gentlemen may times over the years, it is clear he has not

found the aging process an obstacle, but has worked instead with its

realities. There was an interesting statement in the program notes that seems

worth repeating: "...in 1986, Goulet was the pioneer that launched road shows

and Broadway national tours..."

One of Robert Goulet's children, Michael Goulet, is also in this production. A

fine vocalist as well as performer and guitarist, this tall, handsome young

man is full of bright promise. He has already shown his versatility and talent

in other theatrical productions, as well as in productions when he has toured

with his father.

The operatic training and dramatic baritone tones of the Innkeeper, played by

William Parcher, were particularly outstanding.

What was most remarkable for this reviewer was the sonority of the music: it

was "golden-surround" quality. Just 15 musicians and a conductor sounded like

two symphonies (minus the strings). The orchestra was divided so the conductor

was just in the wings on stage right, and the other half of the musicians on

the opposite side of the stage (replete with monitors and audio connections).

With minimal time, sound designer Peter J. Fitzgerald did one of the most

outstanding balancing acts ever heard at the Shubert. Assistant music director

and keyboard player Hal Lanier explained that this tour only has a "skeletal"

trio of musicians: on-stage guitarist Robin Polseno, conductor John Visser and

himself. The other musicians are contracted in each of the places where this

production is performed. With only four hours' rehearsal, this group's musical

prowess was truly impressive.

Written by the creative and gifted Dale Wasserman (who also, among other

noteworthy creations, wrote the classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest ) Man

of La Mancha was first performed in Connecticut's Goodspeed Opera House in

1965 with Richard Kiley playing Don Quixote. Moving off-Broadway to a small

theatre located in Washington Square in Manhattan, it moved to Broadway with

Kiley still doing the lead. A movie version, starring Sophia Loren and Peter

O'Toole, was made in 1972. There have been many revivals of this much beloved

musical ever since.

The music is melodic, inspiring and a joy to listen to. Composer Mitch Leigh's

kudos are impressive. The term "Renaissance man" has been used in connection

with his multiple skills. He is the only living composer whose works have been

included in the Metropolitan Opera's Centennial Celebration.

Mr Leigh studied music at Yale University and in 1985 was the first person to

receive the Yale Arts Award for Outstanding Achievement for Musical

Composition.

Space disallows commenting on all the cast members that did their profession

proud. But Darryl Ferrer was a truly lovable Sancho Panza, and Susan Hoffman a

spitfire "Aldonza/Dulcinea."

Thumbs up on this Man of La Mancha , which is at the Shubert only until

October 6.