Theater Review (LA): Quixote by Kit Steinkellner at the Powerhouse Theatre

The Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble is presenting a charming and relevant retelling of Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote. Written by aspiring and award-winning student-writer Kit Steinkellner and directed by fellow U.C.L.A. student Amanda Glaze, Quixote is a modern retelling of Cervantes' classic set in an office, not unlike television’s The Office, where times are hard and jobs are on the line. The work is mindless and the surroundings dulling to the senses.

One of the clerks, Arthur Quick, a shy, rather ineffective nerd, arrives in the office one day dressed in pots and pans and a colander for a helmet, thus beginning his quests to rid the world of evil and to win the hand of his office manager, Allie. Given the economy and the precarious situation in most offices in America, this delightful tale has great resonance.

The talented cast provides some vivid characterizations and show some good acting chops. The play opens with the slightly ditzy but ingratiating Darcy as played by Sarah Gold. Ms. Gold has terrific comic timing and an adorable presence. Danielle Katz (Lily) and Nathanial Meek play the shy, romantically interested couple. She’s a workaholic nerd and he is a bit of a slacker. Coco Kleppinger is Allie, Quick’s obsession and boss, who is involved in a going-nowhere relationship with the slick and handsome
Trevor Algatt. Ariel Goldberg (Sam) is Quick's sympathetic deskmate, displaying a subtle and understated sense of humor. Paige White (Sloan) is the forceful, driven antagonist who is nevertheless understandable in her desperation to hold on to her job.

The star of the evening is Isaac Wade as Quick. Wade has a wonderfully expressive face and good sense of physical comedy, a natural simpatico for an audience. He is also hilarious and quite moving. Amanda Glaze has directed this diverse group with skill and the right sense of balance, with just the right mix of pathos and comedy, much like its source material. The production closed on Nov. 22nd at the Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica.

Article Author: Robert Machray

ROBERT MACHRAY has appeared in over 150 plays and has worked at 14 Tony Award-winning theatres. He has been nominated for and won numerous awards. Robert has a B.A. from Yale and an M.F.A. from USC. He has taught at USC, UCLA, UCSB, and Pasadena City College. …

Visit Robert Machray's author page — Robert Machray's Blog