THIS `LA MANCHA' NOT THE ONE OF YOUR DREAMS.Byline: - Evan Henerson We know why ``Man of La Mancha'' has been such a crowd-pleasing war horse for lo these many years: The music rouses, a vocally well-endowed baritone gets to unleash some quite familiar songs, and the audience's collective cockeyed optimist is satiated sa·ti·ate tr.v. sa·ti·at·ed, sa·ti·at·ing, sa·ti·ates 1. To satisfy (an appetite or desire) fully. 2. To satisfy to excess. adj. Filled to satisfaction. . But it's not simply about what the guy playing Don Quixote does with ``The Impossible Dream'' -- and its umpteen reprisals REPRISALS, war. The forcibly taking a thing by one nation which belonged to another, in return or satisfaction for a injury committed by the latter on the former. Vatt. B., 2, ch. 18, s. 342; 1 Bl. Com. ch. 7. 2. -- but about what precedes the number. Are we with the guy? Or, like the Spanish Inquisition, are we just as content to see the deluded Don and his poetic creator sizzle siz·zle intr.v. siz·zled, siz·zling, siz·zles 1. To make the hissing sound characteristic of frying fat. 2. To seethe with anger or indignation. 3. ? And how about the soiled kitchen wench Aldonza? Redemption or a trip back to the dung heap? Without knockout leads -- as is the case in a touring revival in Thousand Oaks -- the consensus tilts more toward indifference -- never a good thing when you're dealing with Don Quixote. Steve McCoy (as Cervantes/Quixote) and Tess Rohan (Aldonza/Dulcinea) are perfectly serviceable as ``La Mancha's'' leading dreamers, but neither reaches for the emotional jugular jugular /jug·u·lar/ (jug´u-lar) 1. cervical. 2. pertaining to a jugular vein. 3. a jugular vein. jug·u·lar adj. . Rohan's feistiness is her strongest suit, although the disdainful dis·dain·ful adj. Expressive of disdain; scornful and contemptuous. See Synonyms at proud. dis·dain  ful·ly adv. spitting gets a bit wearing. Otherwise, the Phoenix Entertainment tour of ``La Mancha'' -- directed by Sam Viverito and concluding this weekend -- has most of the musical's reliable elements at the ready. The plot is familiar, Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion's songs are in our consciousness (so much so that, with those repetitive castanet The initial name given to Java-based content delivery software for the Internet and intranets from Marimba. Renamed Desktop/Mobile Management, the software provides application updates and other published content for client machines. rhythms, many of the numbers start to sound alike). This production offers better technical capabilities than road companies typically assemble, most notably a shrewd warped barrel-shaped set designed by Michael Hotopp that looks like something out of ``Lord of the Rings.'' MAN OF LA MANCHA - Two and one half stars Where: Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is a performing arts and administrative center located in Thousand Oaks, California. It was built in 1994 on the former site of "Jungleland" at a cost of $63.8 million. , 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. When: 8 tonight, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday; through Sunday. Tickets: $42 to $56. (805) 583-8700 or visit www.theaterleague.com. In a nutshell: Don Quixote rides again in this straightforward if unexciting revival. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: McCoy as Don Quixote |
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