Like Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes died in 1616, and amid its commemorative events two years ago the Royal Shakespeare Company premiered this adaptation by James Fenton of the Spanish novelist's most famous work.
If it’s taken a surprisingly long time to transfer to London, that's presumably because its two original stars haven't till now been simultaneously available.
David Threlfall is Don Quixote, a fantasist who, after gorging on romantic stories, aspires to reawaken the spirit of chivalry. Clanking around in rusty armour, he seems to have lost any grip on reality, whether he’s tilting at windmills or mistaking a flock of sheep for an army. Threlfall gives him a dignified mournfulness and amiable eccentricity.
As his sidekick Sancho Panza, Rufus Hound achieves a strong rapport with the audience: ad-libbing expertly, he has an easy, tireless charisma. Among the supporting cast, Ruth Everett and Richard Leeming are notably funny, and there are ingenious puppets.
Angus Jackson’s production has generosity at his heart, and comedy director Cal McCrystal adds some smart touches. The first half has an anarchic verve that’s close to pantomime — including a food fight that sees the stalls pelted with bread rolls. Yet while the adaptation condenses Cervantes’s vast novel into a little under three hours, it still feels overlong. Grant Olding’s songs are witty, but don’t do enough to accentuate the action, and despite poignant moments the second half runs out of steam.
Until Feb 2 (0330 333 4811, donquixoteplay.com)
