South Elgin High School presents 'Man of La Mancha'

With all the determination and enthusiasm of Don Quixote himself, the cast of South Elgin High School's production of "Man of La Mancha" has come together to put on their own performance of the classic knight's tale.

The musical opens with a 7 p.m. performance today, and continues through Saturday.

Tickets are $6 for students and seniors and $8 for adults.

The school usually sticks to comedies, explains Director Carrie Crowe, so taking on "Man of La Mancha" changed the normal routine.

"It's one of our first more dramatic musicals," said Crowe, "so we tried to step it up a notch. We're trying to take it to a new level."

The cast isn't afraid to take any risks, though, and the actors are immersing themselves in the musical in order to put their best work into the production.

"(It's hard) trying to separate yourself and your character," said junior Kimberly Miller, who plays Aldonza. "You get so into one thing that it's kind of hard to separate one from the other."

The musical, written by Dale Wasserman and first performed in 1964, tells the tale of Miguel de Cervantes, who is thrown in prison and takes with him his manservant and his possessions.

His fellow prisoners put him on trial for his possessions, the most important of which is Cervantes's manuscript for a play. He asks to be allowed to set up a defense, and by doing so will act out his unfinished play.

Cervantes takes on the title character, Don Quixote, and assigns the other prisoners roles in his story as well.

Don Quixote is a self-proclaimed knight who has gone mad and takes on different chivalric duties that often lead to trouble. He encounters all sorts of characters from Aldonza, a woman he calls Dulcinea to whom he owes his loyalty, to his witty manservant Sancho.

As the story progresses, the other prisoners become engrossed in the plot and eventually start to favor Cervantes as well. But regardless of the entertainment going on in the play, Cervantes will soon have to face his real-life fate.

Although the play has the added challenge of being the school's first dramatic musical, Crowe is proud of the great work ethic her students have for the show and values the time the put into the production.

"It's really fun working with the students and watching them develop," said Crowe. "(I like) watching them take it on and develop and work really hard."

The cast members have also had to focus on balancing school and the musical and ensuring that both get the right precedence.

"I've done other productions for church, but this is the first I've done in school," said Israel Marti, junior, who plays Sancho. "(A challenge is) balancing schoolwork and the musical. It's hard but it's possible. It's mainly prioritizing."

Even though the play comes with difficulties, Marti enjoys his role.

"Sancho is a cute guy and he loves what he does with Don Quixote," said Marti. "The fact that's he's willing to do anything his master does is exciting. He's the man."

Miller also has fun with her character, and their similarities make Aldonza's emotions easier to express.

"I'm a lot like Aldonza," said Miller. "We try to come off like we're really tough but on the inside we're sensitive and soft and (I like that) at the end she gets to show that."

In the end, though, the cast, crew and directors are happiest just to see that their finished product has come together into something entertaining for the audience.

"The best part is showtime and the butterflies you get before you go on," said Marti. "Don Quixote is so fun. (The show) has great humor."

<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>

<p class="News"><b>What:</b> South Elgin High School's production of "Man of La Mancha"</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 7 p.m. today, Feb. 25 and Friday, Feb. 26; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday</p>

<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> South Elgin High School, 760 E. Main St.</p>

<p class="News"><b>How much?</b> $6 for students and seniors, $8 for adults</p>

<p class="News"><b>Call:</b> (847) 289-3760</p>