One of Lorrie Ferguson’s favorite quotes from “Man of La Mancha” reveals perhaps the key to happiness: “Call nothing thy own except thy soul. Love not what thou art, but only what thou may become.”
Dreaming the impossible dream can help, too.
“Man of La Mancha,” which opens March 24 at PM&L Theatre is a classical musical, and one Ferguson said she’s always wanted to direct. “I really enjoy the message. The Man of La Mancha is a dreamer. He sees good in everyone and everything.”
But not all is Pollyanna-ish about this musical based on the 17th century masterwork, “Don Quixote,” written by Miguel de Cervantes.
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Some scenes can be uncomfortable and aren’t suitable for young children, she said, but they are necessary to move along the story of how positive thinking could be embraced as well as shunned by humans.
“Man of La Mancha” came to Broadway in 1965 and tells the story of the so-called insane knight Don Quixote as a play within a play. A playwright, who Cervantes named after himself, gets thrown in prison, and while waiting for a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition, tells the tale of the crazy knight and his faithful servant, Sancho Panza.
The play amuses, annoys and sometimes angers the prisoners. Quixote “sees a woman he thinks is beautiful because that’s what every man wants in a woman,” Ferguson said. The woman, however, responds that she is not a lady – and other prisoners scoff at Quixote’s declaration.
“Quixote gets her to believe in herself and believe she can be more than what she is,” Ferguson said.
Over the years, Ferguson has directed other musicals for PM&L including “The Full Monty.”
“It was fun. I love farces. I love comedy but I wanted to do something with a little more depth,” she said. “Man of La Mancha” fit the bill – and it’s challenging as actors must assume two roles — someone in the prison or someone in the playwright’s made-up story.
“I’m working with my people to try to make a definite change between their prisoner character and the character they’re given to portray. Cervantes (the playwright) hands out different roles to everybody. So I tried to make them opposite of who their prisoner character is. I’m hoping that comes across. It’s a bit of a confusing story and I want to make it as clear as possible. We’re doing it with lighting, with costume pieces, with people’s characterizations.”
A brightly lit stage is created for the fantasy story, while the other real life story is “a little darker, a little dingier, a little less sparkly,” she said.
Ferguson said the musical includes memorable songs such as “Dulcinea” and “The Impossible Dream” as well as humorous scenes..
She thinks the audience will enjoy a scene when Quixote and Sancho are on an adventure and meet some gypsies. “It’s a very funny scene,” she said. “There are a few others that are fun. I like different levels. I don’t want this to be totally dark or totally campy. I think there are a lot of levels in this musical that can be missed if directors want to go in just one direction or the other,” she said.
Ferguson added, “I want to make sure the people who are coming to see the classical ‘Man of La Mancha’ come away with a greater understanding of the characters. And for those who have never seen it, I’m hoping their lives are enriched and they see they can be more than what they are.”
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
Man of La Mancha
When: Weekends, March 24-April 9
Where: PM&L Theatre, 877 Main St., Antioch
Tickets: $15-$18
Information: 847-395-3055; www.pmltheatre.com