Don Quixote

Presented in association with DOCA - Devizes Outdoor Community ArtsAfter a brief rest (hopefully), having concluded his month-long show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August, The Wharf Theatre at Devizes is the next stop for this humorous show about contemplating one's life achievements whilst rampaging though the massive tome of Cervantes' heavyweight novel - Don Quixote.This review by Lyn Gardner at The Stage sums it up perfectly...Dik Downeys attempt to stage every page of Cervantes novel is inventive fun and bonkers!
"There is a moment shortly before the end of Dik Downeys absolutely bonkers, totally loveable assault on Cervantes novel when he suddenly realises that he only has 10 minutes to go and there are still 800 pages of the book to get through. Don Quixote is indeed a very big book and Downeys attempt to stage it clunking about in the 17kg armour he purchased off eBay is of course every bit as deluded as Don Quixotes own doomed quest.
But goodness, there is a lot of clownish fun to enjoy along the way. Don Quixotes decrepit horse, Rocinante, does a dressage routine to Ravels Bolero and the bald pate of a member of the audience serves as the animals salt lick. Three pairs of lips pinned to Downeys chest stand in for the three generations of brilliantly mouthy women running the inn that Don Quixote visits.
This is a very merry show, but always an inventive one, too, celebrating its lack of resources as it asks questions about the impossible dreams we all have, but unlike Don Quixote and Downey himself, who aged 63 is making his Edinburgh Fringe debut never pursue.
It riffs too on professional jealousies, failure and how we measure our achievements. Is Downeys split-second appearance in Terry Gilliams movie Brazil only possible to spot if you freeze-frame the action at exactly eight minutes and 35 seconds his highest attainment?
Downey asks what a life amounts to, and this appealingly silly and moving show is the answer."