Review of La Mancha

A solid and spirited production best describes "Man of La Mancha," the current Human Race Theatre production at the Loft Theatre in downtown Dayton.
Buoyed by the performances of Kevin Moore as the ever optimistic Cervantes/Quixote, David C. Maxwell as his faithful sidekick, Sancho Panza, and Melissa D'Amico as the passionate Aldonza/Dulcinea, "Man of La Mancha" scores a near perfect bull's-eye in this two-act musical staging.
Moore, the executive director and resident artist with the Human Race since its start in 1986,
has taken a temporary leave from his office duties to step into what he had called his "dream role" since his days at Bowling Green State University. In what is most likely his difficult and demanding roles ever, Moore is more than up to the challenge, moving effortlessly from his role of Cervantes, the author, to that of Don Quixote, the eternal dreamer in his quest "to fight the unbeatable foe" and "right the unrightable wrong" in an effort "to reach the unreachable star."
Moore's full-bodied performance in the title role captures the essence of the show set in Spanish prison that was written by Dale Wasserman in 1968.
D'Amico matches Moore step for step in her ebullient performance as Aldonza/Dulicinea, a portrayal with remarkable depth of feeling from start to finish. Maxwell is so right as Moore's sidekick, offering a nice mixture of lightness and poignancy.
Excellent supporting performances by Jamie Cordes as the Duke/Dr. Carrasco, Mike Kennedy as the Captain of the Guard, Jake Lockwood as the Barber, Kristoffer Lowe as the Padre and David Tillistrand as the Governor/Innkeeper keep the production right on track.
The motley crew of prisoners also add to the action and the atmosphere of the prison surroundings.
Kudos also to director Scott Stoney as well as the entire production crew for their superior skill in creating the feel and smell of a dungeon, complete with a unique runway upstairs to the Inquisition site. Credit goes to David A. Centers and Scott Kimmins for the set and Scot Woolly for the musical direction of his quintet.
"Man of La Mancha" continues through Sunday, Nov. 15. Call 228-3630 for ticket information.