Don Quixote Rides Again promised to be a highlight of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2023. However, the reality was utterly enchanting in the capable hands of storyteller Inés Álvarez Villa and flamenco musician Danielo Olivera.
Álvarez Villa is possessed of a melodic and breathy voice, ideal for plucking an audience from a cold Scottish evening, and into a dream of La Mancha. What audacity to adapt Cervantes’ epic tale of the ‘Knight of the Sad Countenance’ into an hour of spoken word, and yet it worked. Soundtracked by Olivera’s dynamic, singing strings, there would be no resisting Don Quixote’s call to chivalric adventures, however deluded.
In truth, the episodic nature of the Quixote novels lends itself to the telling, and Director Jelena Bašić clearly conspired well with the two performers. The result was an unrushed, but rhythmic journey towards a curious truth. For whilst our hero knight might take windmills for giants, and concoct the most gastrically explosive of magic medicines, his nobility of heart shone forth. Indeed Álvarez Villa burnished Quixote’s shield with abundant affection.
Competence and skill certainly contributed to this show’s success, but really it was more than the sum of its parts. A Spanish tale, told by talented Spaniards, and bathed in such powerfully evocative music, Don Quixote Rides Again is one of those rare alignments of talent and personality. They don’t happen often.
The comedy of Quixote’s misadventures was also much in evidence, from his continual promises of a regional governorship to Sancho, through their inevitable beatings, and improbable successes. Again, these often laugh-out-loud funny moments were dotted rhythmically through the show, always present, but never allowed to dominate. Don Quixote Rides Again had balance, even if his horse had less.
Even a mid-way prompt request from our storyteller failed to burnish the evening, being deftly woven into what is a meta-story anyway. Indeed, the concept of the books being written by one of its characters, and read by others could be confusing, but such was not the case. A clear thread and cast list emerged swiftly due to a careful selection of episodes. Curation is a superpower when used so well.
Ultimately, of course, Don Quixote and Sancho dominate proceedings, and both were wonderfully spoken into being. Quixote’s resilient determination to be himself and his squire’s growing admiration was palpable. It was a pity to be forced to part company when the curtain fell. Funny, spellbinding, and poignant, Don Quixote Rides Again must surely go down as one of the highlights of this year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival.
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