Don Quixote
Performed by the San Francisco Ballet, 2004
SYNOPSIS
Prologue:
Don Quixote’s Study. Don
Quixote is engrossed in a book about ancient chivalry.
He falls asleep and dreams
that he is a knight defending his ideal woman, Dulcinea.
His vision is disrupted when Sancho Panza bursts through
the study door. The gluttonous Sancho has stolen a ham and
a group of exasperated housewives are pursuing him. Startled
by the commotion, Don Quixote turns the angry women out of
the room. An idea then comes to Don Quixote. He will make
Sancho his squire and together the two will set out on an
adventure to defend virtue and punish those who transgress
the code of chivalry.
Act
I: A Square in Barcelona. Outside her
father’s
inn, Kitri professes her love for Basilio. But Lorenzo, spying
the young lovers in the crowd, forbids his daughter from
seeing the young barber ever again. Kitri is horrified when
she discovers her father’s plan to marry her to the
affected nobleman Gamache. The arrival of Don Quixote and
Sancho Panzo causes a commotion. Don Quixote sees Kitri and
mistakes her for Dulcinea and the two briefly dance a minuet.
At the height of the merriment, Kitri and Basilio sneak off,
pursued by Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and Lorenzo and
Gamache.
Act
II, Scene 1: A Gypsy Camp. Don Quixote
and Sancho Panza follow Kitri and Basilio to a gypsy camp
where a dance is
in progress. The gypsies invite Don Quixote to attend a puppet
show. Watching the performance, Don Quixote mistakes the
heroine for Dulcinea. With sword in hand, he rushes forth
to save her and attacks the puppet stage. He then confuses
a nearby windmill for a threatening giant. Striking out at
it, Don Quixote is caught by the windmill’s sail. He
is hurled to the ground and falls into a deep sleep.
Act
II, Scene 2: The Dream. Don Quixote dreams
he is a knight surrounded by beautiful maidens in which
Kitri symbolizes
Dulcinea. At sunrise Lorenzo and Gamache interrupt his dream.
Now sympathetic to the young lovers’ situation, Don
Quixote attempts to lead Lorenzo and Gamache astray.
Act
II, Scene 3: A Tavern. Lorenzo finally
catches up with Kitri and forces her to accept Gamache’s proposal.
In response, Basilio fakes his suicide. Kitri begs Don Quixote
to persuade Lorenzo to marry her to Basilio—the young
man’s final death wish. Lorenzo gives his consent,
blesses the lovers, and instantly Basilio comes back to life.
Act
III: The Wedding. There is much merrymaking as the village
celebrates the marriage of Kitri and Basilio. With Don Quixote
as the guest of honor, the happy lovers dance for him. He
congratulates them, bids farewell to all, and together with
Sancho Panza continues on his adventures.
