Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#1Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/2/11 at 11:45pm
How did people here feel about this particular revival? I'm curious.
#2Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/2/11 at 11:51pmOverall, I really liked (but didn't love) it. I very vividly remember that the beauty of the set actually brought tears to my eyes.
#2Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/2/11 at 11:58pmI 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
#3Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/3/11 at 1:04amI 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
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#4Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
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
#5Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
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.
#6Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/3/11 at 7:01amI 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.
#7Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#8Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/3/11 at 3:24pmI'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.
#9Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/3/11 at 3:42pmStokes 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.
#10Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/3/11 at 4:01pmFor 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.
#11Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
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.
#12Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/3/11 at 10:33pmAC1, 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.
#13Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/3/11 at 10:43pmAudra strikes me as a touch too mannered for Aldonza. Mazzie was pitch-perfect.
#14Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/4/11 at 10:22amI 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.
#15Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/4/11 at 10:38amMarin was spectacular.
#16Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/4/11 at 12:26pmI 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
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/12/04
#17Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/4/11 at 5:34pmIt was very good. Not spectacular, though. Brian Stokes Mitchell was awesome in the leading role.
#18Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
Posted: 4/4/11 at 6:26pmI 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
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#19Man of La Mancha w/Brian Stokes Mitchell
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.
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