Don Quixote gets a hold of your heart

Musicals these days seem to be devoted mainly to presenting a great spectacle. Often missing in recent productions is a compelling story and a positive message.

"Man of La Mancha," is a welcome change. At the end of the show, people can leave the theater feeling uplifted. The Korean version of the Broadway musical - which premiered in 1965 in New York - is currently running in Seoul for the third time since 2005.

Based on the classic novel "The Adventures of Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes, the show takes on the form of "a play within a play." It features Cervantes - a fallen aristocrat, playwright and tax collector - as the main character, who is imprisoned and awaiting the Spanish Inquisition.

Cervantes performs a play with his sidekick Sancho in the jail to entertain the other inmates. The drama is about Don Quixote, but, unlike the novel, which portrayed Don Quixote as a deranged old man, the musical presents him more positively.

The role of Cervantes and Don Quixote were well-played by the comedian-turned-musical actor Jung Sung-hwa on Sunday. While his background in comedy enabled him to make the audience laugh every now and then, Jung`s powerful and passionate vocals were most impressive.

It was mostly Jung leading the more-than-two-hour show, with help from Yoon gong-joo, an up-and-coming musical singer who plays the harlot Al Donza, called Dulcinea by the knight-wannabe.

Jung`s singing of "The Impossible Dream," the musical`s signature tune, was a big hit with the audience. With this song, the old Don Quixote revealed his great earnestness, making quite a few people tear up. He also made Al Donza - who constantly refused be called Dulcinea and laughed at him before - realize that she actually deserves to be Dulcinea and to value herself more.

"Man of La Mancha" will run through Sept. 23 at the LG Arts Center in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul. Tickets are from 40,000 won to 110,000 won. For details, call 1588-5212 or check out www.odmusical.com

By Koh Young-aah

(youngaah@heraldm.com)