There are many excellent reasons why Man of La Mancha has been one of Broadway's most beloved and enduring musicals. Many of the show's songs are gorgeous and stunning, especially 'The Impossible Dream,' which has become a standard and taken on a life of its own, beyond the confines of the musical. A number of important and universal themes also run through the play, including religion vs. science, the power of imagination, the power of faith, and how believing in something can change us and change our lives. Unfortunately, many of those reasons, from the power of the music to the deeply human themes are absent in this lackluster and lifeless touring production. It's hard to say exactly why or how, but it's undeniable that something is missing. The electricity, the energy, the human connections are completely missing in this production where every line is a rote line reading and every song is robbed of any kind of emotional depth or connection.
