[ATTENDED: March 8, 2026] Circus Quixote
Well, Circus is a bit broad for this performance. There are a few moments of acrobatics, but for the most part it is an enjoyable performance of the Don Quixote story: a kind dreamer who may be touched by madness and who goes on an impossible quest to make the world a better place.
The company that put the production on Lookingglass, is known for this kind of whimsical performance. And while it didn’t really do “cirque” things, there were still Circusey elements: oversized puppetry, song, slapstick and even a talking monkey.
The stage setup was simple but effective with a giant windmill (that spins) and a wall/bookshelf that is interactive.
The main character, Don Quijada [Michel Rodriguez Cintra] is an old man in a rocking chair. The prop of this chair is wonderful–rocking and becoming horselike. He reads chivalric romances and believes that he is, in fact, a knight. He puts on some armor (junk around the house) and calls himself Don Quixote. He brings along a farmer named Sancho Panza [Eduardo Martinez] who acts as his squire and tried to keep him out of trouble.
I really enjoyed Laura Murillo Hart who was the Housekeeper as well as Dulcinea and other roles. Midway through the show she comes out wearing a massively oversized dress. Moments later we realize there is actually a puppet show going on in the bottom half of it (and that there must be two people inside the dress).
The funniest part of the show was when Cervantes breaks the fourth wall. The beginning of Act 2 was a hilarious argument about how the story should go between the narrator and Cervantes. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 