to reeeeeach the unreachable staaaaaar

[batyatoon]

So I just listened to the entirety of the Man of La Mancha soundtrack -- the 1965 original Broadway cast recording -- while assembling components of tomorrow night's dinner. (Not done yet! Still have to assemble dessert.)

It matters that it's this particular recording; my parents owned it on vinyl and it will always be the definitive version in my head. And it has been forever since I listened to this and every phrase, every pause, every vocal inflection is still familiar and dear. I don't think I will ever not love this musical to tiny bits.

(And yeah, I still can't decide which part I covet most: Aldonza or Sancho.)

And meanwhile, for the first time I found myself having Thoughts about this play through feminist lenses, and I am pretty sure I am not done having them. Hmmm.

[also adiva_calandia I have to talk to you sometime about the notion of Don Quixote as a breeches role because what.]

Comments

[rymenhild]

Will I be drummed out of the room if I admit I never understood the 1965 recording, and I didn't fall in love with the musical until I saw Brian Stokes Mitchell play Quixote/Cervantes? (He was brilliant. He was magnificent. He just shone.) I can only listen to the Mitchell soundtrack, I'm afraid.

[batyatoon]

Course not! This is about as subjective as these things get.

(I listened to the Brian Stokes Mitchell recording, and ... while it was really good, it wasn't my version. You know how it is.)

[filkerdave]

You and I share the same recording! That's the one with the Hirschfeld picture, right?

[batyatoon]

I think so! Is it this one?

[filkerdave]

Yep, that one. Only one Nina.