Title: Man of La Mancha

Author: Dale Wasserman, Joe Darion, and Mitch Leigh

Rating: 4 stars

The screen play Man of La Mancha on Broadway starts out when a man called Cervantes and his manservant enter a dungeon known as the common room and wait for their trial in the Inquisition. The lead prisoner, know as the Governor, tell Cervantes that he must first be tried by his fellow prisoners, and if found guilty, they are stripped of their possessions. He is charge with beign an Idealist, a Bad Poet, and an Honest man. Cervantes pleaded guilty! When the governor tried to destroy his prize possession (Hint), Cervantes tells them why he pleaded guilty, for "had I said innocent, you surely would have found me guilty, since I have admitted guilt, the court is required to hear me out!" Cervantes' defense is a play he will do with the prisoners and the main character , as you will guess, is Cervantes playing the knight of thought Don Quixote. Don Quixote is a mad man that loves life and want to achieve his "quest"! I was drawn into this book by Don Quixote, who while insane was a good man. My favorite parts of the book are when Don Quixote calls the kitchen maid, Aldonza, Dulcinea. It made me think that he loved her so much that he calls her by a given name that means she is beautiful, intelligent, and charming. Aldonza thinks her life is not worth living, cruel, and worthless at any price. This is because any man she ever loved always disserted her. Don Quixote throughout the entire play teaches her life is wonderful and that she is not worthless or pathetic. Don Quixote's quest took a turn when he faced the Knight of the Mirrors, who was really just his niece's fiancé. Using mirrored shields, the Knight of the Mirrors and his men forced Don Quixote out of his madness. Tragically when his niece's fiancé forces Don Quixote of his madness it also makes him sick. When he wakes up he thinks all of his heroic adventures are just a dream. But instead we know that Don Quixote has made all of the people he has met love life. These people are some of the few, some the many people who he has changed their lives: the innkeeper, Aldonza, Sancho, the prisoners, and YOU (once you have read Man of La Mancha and seen the movie) Note: the movie is different from the book because it deletes some scenes and changes others.

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