Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society's Man of La Mancha cast delivered tour de force performances

Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society’s annual show – Man of La Mancha – was an uplifting and moving celebration of the virtues of honour, courage and chivalry as codes to live by and aspire to in a cruel world.

The final curtain fell at the Strand Theatre on Saturday, March 28 on the seven-night run of the show based on the Spanish writer Cervantes and his famous literary creation - the delusional knight Don Quixote.

It was staged on the 30th anniversary of the Society’s acclaimed first production of Man of La Mancha.

The tour de force acting and singing performances of the entire cast of the Society’s 2026 production must surely rival the award winning 1996 version.

Neill Bourke was outstanding in the demanding dual roles of Cervantes and Don Quixote. He played Don Quixote with such sincerity and nobility that you really rooted for his character.

His performance of The Impossible Dream at the close of the first act gave this reviewer goose bumps. It was a joy to listen to his deep, sonorous voice singing this anthem with such feeling.

Louise Russell was also exceptional in the lead female role of the inn cook and prostitute Aldonza who Don Quixote believes is his fair maiden Dulcinea.

Her singing was beautiful and she impressively conveyed the world weariness, pain, anger and despair of the downtrodden Aldonza in her acting.

Liam Butler, who played Cervantes/Don Quixote in the 1996 production, made a welcome return to the stage of the Strand in this year's show in the dual role of the Governor/Inn Keeper. He very skilfully portrayed the kindness and benevolence of the Inn Keeper’s character.

Another veteran of the 1996 show, Audie Murphy played Tenorio, delighting the audience with his gorgeous performance of the song, Little Bird, Little Bird.

Another standout vocal performance was Tobie Hickey as the Padre singing The Psalm near the end of the second act.

The wonderful ensemble performance of the show’s cast was greatly complemented by John O’Donoghue’s atmospheric set and the gritty costuming.

The standing ovation delivered by the audience as the cast took their final bows at the end of the show said it all.
Director Andrew Holden and his back stage team should take a bow too on staging such a memorable production of this Tony Award winning musical.

Louise Russell (front second from right) who played Aldonza/Dulcinea in Man of La Mancha with the Muleteers from left Jack Coady, Richard Dunphy, Bobby Landers (front beside Louise Russell), Declan Smith-Robinson (back) and Jonathan Caulfield (far right). Pictures John Murphy