Man of La Mancha, 2014, is about to begin in Stratford, Ontario.
Two dozen Wizard of Ads partners are there.

To understand the play, Man of La Mancha, you must first recognize that it departs from Cervantes’ book, Don Quixote, in several ways. Among these is that – unlike the book – the play has Quixote meeting Dulcinea face-to-face. In the book this never happens. In fact, at no time does Aldonza Lorenzo – Quixote’s “Dulcinea” – ever know the old man even exists. But everything he does is in her name and for her honor.

Back to the play: Miguel de Cervantes, poet, playwright and part-time actor, has been arrested by the Inquisition and accused of presenting an offensive entertainment. The play begins in a dungeon as overhead steps are lowered so that Cervantes and Sancho, his servant, can be delivered there to await their trial. With them is a large trunk of theatrical costumes and props. After the stairs are raised again, the other prisoners subject Cervantes and Sancho to a mock trial with the intention of stealing or burning all his possessions. Cervantes is desperate to save a manuscript he carries so he stages an amusement as his defense… the story of Don Quixote.

This is the trailer for the 1972 film that was made from the Broadway play
starring Peter O’Toole and Sophia Loren.

Amazingly, the play presented in Stratford, Ontario in 2014 was superior to the movie.
And the movie is amazing. – Indiana Beagle