barefordplays.com - Don Quixote de La Center

barefordplays.com

Don Quixote de La Center

"Our small theater has been built on offering comedies over the years. However, every once in awhile a Director
happens on a truly special and touching script that they simply must produce and Don Quixote is one of those."

Bittersweet Emotional Comedy

2 acts, 115 minutes

4f, 4m

Unit set

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Download the Don Quixote Director's Pack

Licensing:

To discuss performance rights, visit:
Heuer Publishing

It is Halloween at a group home for senior citizens in the rural town of La Center, Washington. Donald Quintero, an aging resident with dementia, is put in an improvised suit of armor for a Halloween party, and decides that he is a knight of old, viewing the world around him as a land of castles, giants, fair ladies, and evil sorcerers. At first, his antics are harmless--even therapeutic for the other residents--and the staff indulge Don’s fantasy, much to the dismay of his practical-minded son, Sam. Soon, however, Don’s delusions of knightly valor begin causing inadvertent harm, including wheelchair jousts against giants (a vending machine) and battles against infidels (cardboard Thanksgiving pilgrim decorations). And then his fantasies begin to challenge the identities of the other residents…

Alternately lighthearted and bittersweet, this play uses the metaphor of Don Quixote to examine the impacts of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease on our identities, autonomy, and perceptions of reality. It provides a great opportunity for older actors to shine!

Photos by Stephanie Roberts

Production History

May 8 - 11, 2025 Central Wisc. Area Community Theatre Stevens Point, WI USA

Jan 24 - Feb 8, 2025 Quannapowitt Players Reading, MA

April 25 - 27, 2024 Boone Community Theatre Boone, IA USA

Feb 23 - March 4, 2024 Stage West Community Theatre Ocean Shores, WA USA

August 12 - 28, 2022 Magenta Theater Vancouver, WA USA

“ I love a play that I just know will have an amazing talkback. The subject matter in this play is so personal and pretty much everyone will encounter this at some point in their life. I can imagine that it would be such a great conversation with audiences sharing their experiences, both sad and humorous moments with loved ones. ”

Giulianna Marchese, Literary Manager, Red Theater (Chicago)

“ In adapting the legend of Don Quixote, this play beautifully explores the power of imagination and the clashing of individual realities. Bareford creates sublime moments of humor within a world dominated by the pain of dementia. And when unavoidable ruin crashes down upon these characters we care about, there are hard-earned pearls of wisdom that remain which bring positive life-altering changes for those who must continue to joust with their own windmills, in the course of living after the loss. ” Michael Solomonson

Magenta Theater, 2022

Magenta Theater, 2024

“ I saw this play last Friday night, and as a hospice nurse who works with adult family homes, this was incredibly well done. I had moments of tears as well as wonderful laughter….I have experienced each one of those characters as I have interacted with caregivers, patients and families in these situations…a marvelous job of bringing what happens in life to the stage with humor, grief and reality in a beautiful way...It was a marvelous experience for each of us who are senior citizens and are approaching what may be our future sooner than we may like.” Elizabeth Peters