Don Quixote Rides Again

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Alix Paige Lights Up the Stage

By Skip Sheffield

Alix Paige is dreaming her highly-possible dream. This Sunday, Feb. 15 she will perform her cabaret act at the Arts Garage, 180 N.W. First St., Delray Beach. Show time is 7 p.m.

On Thursday, Feb. 26 comes the main event. “Man of La Mancha” opens for previews at the Wick Theatre, 7901 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Alix plays the dual role of Aldonza/Dulcinea opposite Broadway star George Dvorsky as Cervantes/Don Quixote.

This will be the third time Alix Paige has played the lowly, loose, serving wench who Don Quixote images to be the epitome of beauty, grace and virtue.

“She is tired and sick of life,” says Alix. “She’s stuck. She only sees the worst in life. Then Don Quixote comes along and she has hope. He completely changes her.”

“Man of La Mancha” won five Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 1965. The play is set in a dungeon during the Spanish Inquisition in the late 16^th century. The writer Miguel de Cervantes is on trial for heresy.  With his manservant and sidekick Sancho Panza (Michael Usura), Cervantes improvises a play in defense of his idealistic but delusional hero.

The songs of “Man of La Mancha,” with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion, have become classics; especially Cervantes/Quixote’s theme song “The Impossible Dream.”

In fact the word quixotic has entered modern vocabulary to indicate a blindly optimistic, often foolish person. Other much-loved songs are “Little Bird,” “I’m Only Thinking of Him,” “What Does He Want of Me?” and the exquisite “Dulcinea.”

“It’s great to be back at the Wick after doing `Swing’ there,” says Alix, who is the subject of the aforementioned song. “My husband and I have moved from New York to Delray Beach. We considered Los Angeles and Las Vegas, but I’m an East Coast girl and I love the ocean we just love Delray Beach. The actors here are so welcoming and friendly. It’s like a community; a family.”

Opening night of “Man of La Mancha” is Saturday, Feb. 28. The show runs through March 28. Tickets are $58-$62. Call 561-995 2333 or go to www.thewick.org.