Show Synopsis:
The imprisoned Miguel de Cervantes and his manservant are attacked by their fellow prisoners in a dungeon during the Spanish Inquisition and found guilty in a mock trial. The prisoners want to burn all of Cervantes' possessions, but he wants to keep his manuscript, so he offers his "defense," which is his performance of a play where he is Alonso Quijana, a man who lost his mind with stories and wants to be a heroic knight name Don Quixote de La Mancha. Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza try to attack a windmill and then mistake an inn for a castle. Don Quixote believes the barmaid and prostitute Aldonza is the lady Dulcinea, and Aldonza is confused by his behavior, since she is used to being treated roughly. Meanwhile, Don Quixote's niece Antonia is concerned about the shame her family will endure because of her uncle's behavior, and her fiance Dr. Carrasco decides to try and cure him, and goes with the priest to find Don Quixote. Don Quixote tries to court Aldonza and believes that he is successful, although she has arranged to sleep with another man named Pedro later. Don Quixote goes to stand vigil outside the inn in preparation for his knighting and starts talking to Aldonza, who gets slapped by Pedro for keeping him waiting. Don Quixote miraculously triumphs over Pedro and his fighters, leaving them unconscious, and the innkeeper asks Don Quixote to leave after knighting him. The men at the inn beate, rape, and carry off Aldonza while Don Quixote is oblivious. He and Sancho have all their possessions stolen from them by a band of gypsies on the road, and have to go back to the inn. Don Quixote vows to avenge Aldonza's injuries, but then Don Quixote's "sworn enemy" the Enchanter arrives, and they fight until the Enchanter's mirror-like shields force Don Quixote to see himself as Alonso. The Enchanter is Dr. Carrasco in disguise. Cervantes tells the prisoners that this is the end of the story so far, and they are about to burn his manuscript until he pleads for time to show one more scene. Alonso wakes from a coma and only vaguely remember his delusions of being a knight, but understands that he is ill and dying. Aldonza comes to his room, longing to only be Dulcinea, but as he remembers his knightly persona, he dies. Aldonza vows to always remember him and be Dulcinea for the rest of her life. The prisoners return the manuscript of Don Quixote de la Mancha to Cervantes as the Inquisition fetches him for trial.	

Character:
Housekeeper, an older woman with strong moral convictions.

Song Context:
Antonia and Alonso's housekeeper go to the local church to ask the priest for his help in getting Alonso to come to his senses. They are trying to paint themsleves as pious and innocent victims of Alonso's madness and delusions.	

Fun Facts:
1) This musical was based on the radio play I, Don Quixote, which was based on Miguel de Cervantes' novel Don Quixote. 
2) Eleanore Knapp's only Broadway performance was originating the role of The Housekeeper, and she played the role for almost seven straight years. 
3) Man of La Mancha won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and was the first musical developed at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, Connecticut to go on to Broadway.