Firmly established as a seminal work of fiction, Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote not only deals with philosophical themes like identity and deception, but also with their comedic foils, imitation and fantasy. Cervantes instills in his character qualities that make him a hero in spite of himself, contrasting Quixote with the superhuman knights of Romantic poetry he wishes to emulate. The resultant character has inspired artists from Richard Strauss to Picasso to Dale Wasserman, who wrote a teleplay inspired by the novel, then adapted it for the musical stage in 1965 with composer Mitch Leigh.
The story of Don Quixote lends itself well to theatrics, and Wasserman's decision to tell the tale as a play within a play further accentuates the themes of fantasy and identity. Florence's Commonwealth Opera offers its rendition of the Tony Award-winning musical Man of La Mancha with an auditioned cast, including a wealth of New England natives (Mara Bonde of Concord, Mass. is pictured), and chorus and full orchestra conducted by E. Wayne Abercrombie.
May 9-10: 8 p.m.; May 11: 2 p.m., $20-50, Academy of Music, 274 Main St., Northampton, (413) 587-0067, www.commonwealthopera.org.
