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Review: 'Man of La Mancha' at Engeman Theater

BY STEVE PARKS | steve.parks@newsday.com

July 3, 2008

John W. Engeman Theater at Northport Presents: " Man of La Mancha " (Newsday/Paul DeGrocco / )

"The Impossible Dream" must have rung with particular resonance for Richard Dolce Saturday night. While his business partner, executive director Kevin O'Neill, is accustomed to startups, creating a professional theater company on Long Island had long been a dream of Dolce's. The artistic director of the John W. Engeman Theater at Northport saw his dream come true, filling 80 percent of the plush venue's seats in its first season.

On opening night of season two, a capacity crowd greeted "Man of La Mancha" like a longtime, no-see friend of whom they'd say, "You haven't changed a bit."

WHY SEE IT

David McDonald gives the audience what it came for with a rousing "Impossible Dream." He plays Miguel de Cervantes and the gallantly deranged title character of his novel "Don Quixote," whose story he enacts while awaiting the Inquisition's summons in set designers' Michael Bottari and Ronald Case's dungeon. As directed by Peter Flynn, McDonald's man from La Mancha is at once noble and foolish in his childlike senility.

Even more inspired is Carey Brown as Aldonza/Dulcinea, the knight's unlikely choice of a lady "to love pure and chaste from afar." We see her as she entreats Don Quixote to see her - vulnerable, impure, ferocious. Richard Ruiz as Sancho exudes loyalty as the servant who is witness to his master's grace.

BOTTOM LINE

There have been dozens of productions of "Man of La Mancha" since its 1965 Broadway premiere.This one boasts a thrilling trollop of a "lady" and a poignant knight-errant.

WHAT "Man of La Mancha," the musical by Dale Wasserman, Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion

WHEN|WHERE Through Aug. 3 at the John W. Engeman Theater at Northport, 250 Main St. $60; 631-261-2900; engemantheater.com