Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 4/2/11 at 11:45pm

How did people here feel about this particular revival? I'm curious.

Updated On: 4/2/11 at 11:45 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/2/11 at 11:51pm

Overall, I really liked (but didn't love) it. I very vividly remember that the beauty of the set actually brought tears to my eyes.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/2/11 at 11:58pm

I never actually saw the production but Brian Stokes Mitchell's Impossible Dream brought tears to my eyes on the Tony telecast. If I could go back in time I'd see it

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 4/3/11 at 1:04am

I remember "Impossible Dream" received a standing ovation when I saw it. I loved the revival, but it was my first exposure to the musical. I really loved it and I subsequently named my dog Dulcinea.

[jo]

Posted: 4/3/11 at 1:31am

I saw the original production of MAN OF LA MANCHA with Richard Kiley in an off-Broadway theatre -- it was one of the most emotional moments onstage for me! I felt connected to the story and to the drama of this man trying to pursue a quixotic dream. I also the Brian Stokes Mitchell revival - sorry, but it was a disappointing production for me. BSM, while vocally impressive, was too fragile-looking a man in the end and did not elicit the feeling of identification with his character that Kiley elicited from the audience. The Kiley portrayal was one of the most engaging dramatic performances that I have ever seen. Also, the sets were too busy in the revival ( compared to the simple stage, with hardly any props, in the original production). I am glad that the musical score for the original production has been transferred to a CD and preserved the sparkling performances in the original production.


Updated On: 4/3/11 at 01:31 AM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/3/11 at 3:59am

MOLM is probably my all time favorites. It was also my first Musical theatre experience, I have seen in numerous times in various revivals on Broadway and in regional theatres. I too saw it Off Broadway with Kiley. As much as I like Brian Stokes Mitchell's "The Impossible Dream" I found the massive set a distraction.
Nothing compared to the first time in the Original production the simple stairway was lowered from the catwalk to the Inquisitor's theme I found the costumes boring and not quite the right tone and timbre for the piece.
I still don't understand why the Barber got such a spectacular entrance.... Made my mind boggle a little.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/3/11 at 7:01am

I saw the pre-Broadway tryout in Washington, DC. If there had been an intermission, I would have walked out. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's butchering of Aldonza's songs made my ears bleed. The set was gorgeous, but overall this production bored me.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 4/3/11 at 2:52pm

I enjoyed the production over all but remember really disliking the rusted oil drum that seemed to serve as the stairway. The ballets section didn't completly work for me either. I liked BSM but see the point about his physicality.
"the Imposible Dream" is still a powerful piece and w Sept 11 2001 not that far removed certain phrases took on a new power and poiniangntcy- "to run where the brave dare not go" I remember pulling myself out of the moment ( for just a sec) and looking around at the audience and a large number of who I could see were also tearing up.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/3/11 at 3:24pm

I'm another one who saw the original MAN OF LA MANCHA with Kiley, Diener and the rest of that brilliant cast. The Stokes version didn't measure up one bit.

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 4/3/11 at 3:42pm

Stokes was incredible in the revival. It was my very first Broadway experience as a child, so it holds a very special place in my heart. As for Stokes .vs. Kiley - I may be biased, but I thought that Stokes did a much better Impossible Dream. Kiley just didn't have the depth behind his voice.

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/3/11 at 4:01pm

For what it's worth, I cannot imagine any singing actress currently working who could perform Aldonza's music better than Marin Mazzie, who replaced Mastrantonio a few months before the show closed. She was phenomenal and elevated what was essentially a very dull revival.

[Horton]

Posted: 4/3/11 at 10:22pm

@AC126748 I could also imagine Audra McDonald in that role. I think that if she had played Aldonza that revival which many deemed lackluster (but I loved) would have been a hit.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/3/11 at 10:33pm

AC1, I agree with you 100%. I went back to see Marin and was blown away. Mastrantonio's folksy school marmish Aldonza helped drive that revival into the ground. Marin gave the character the edge she needed.

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/3/11 at 10:43pm

Audra strikes me as a touch too mannered for Aldonza. Mazzie was pitch-perfect.

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 10:22am

I saw it with Mastrantonio, and I have to agree with those who say that while BSM's take on The Impossible Dream was indeed memorable, the entire production was anything but.

[MissAnneThrop]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 10:38am

Marin was spectacular.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 12:26pm

I didn't see the production, and I know that many people were generally nonplussed. But the cast recording is one of my favorites of all time.

[Sant]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 5:34pm

It was very good. Not spectacular, though. Brian Stokes Mitchell was awesome in the leading role.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 6:26pm

I saw it on a day that Stokes was out, actually, but I still remember really loving the production and the show. Thankfully, I've seen gotten to see Stokes perform The Impossible Dream a number of times, and it is heart-stopping.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 10:05am

Not a good show, and not a good revival. Some really painful choreography, even the dancers seemed rather bored with it.

But it had Brian Stokes Mitchell singing the f*ck out of those songs, especially Impossible Dream and Dulcinea. Not a total loss.