"Doesn't it get exhausting?" and "What's the point?" asks Dulcinea in this exploration of the first chapter of Don Quixote. The answers are yes and I have no idea.
This deeply philosophical and personal work, hugely inspired by Unamuno's "Our Lord Don Quixote", aims to look at that crossroads where "the Ingenious Gentleman" decides to become a knight.
Now, not much actually happens in the first chapter - in short, our Renowned Hero, so infatuated with his books on chivalry that his brains have dried up and his intellects deranged, decides to be a knight, picks a name, names his horse, cleans up his armour and sets his sights on Aldonza (Dulcinea). This piece therefore looks at the inner realm of memory, reason, illusion and imagination, where all things are made possible.
In form it is part musical and part classical Greek theatre, delivered in a somewhat Shakespearean style (he was a close contemporary). Amongst sword fights both physical and verbal there is much questioning and ruminating along the lines of Nietzsche and there is probably Miguel de Beistegui and Kierkegaard in there too. There is also a reference to Bulgakov.
The cast do well in bringing it to life and the eclectic score performed by members of The Evangenitals (an art-county, hillbilly-funk band) holds things together.
It's clear that philosophy and the works of Unamuno are dear to the heart of the writer/director but unless you have a similarly obsessive passion you are not likely to regard this as satisfying theatre.
Unamuno went so far as to say that his goal was to "free Don Quixote from Cervantes" - something that this production has done.
Times: 8-16 August, 10.15 am. and 18-22 August, 11.45am.