REP’s Man of La Mancha First Impressions: Nonie Buencamino Makes “The Impossible Dream” Land

Members of the cast and creative team of Repertory Philippines’ Man of La Mancha during the opening-night talkback at REP Eastwood Theater, framed by Julio Garcia’s forced-perspective set — Opening-night talkback after REP’s *Man of La Mancha* at REP Eastwood Theater. Nonie Buencamino was not available for the talkback. Photo: Saul de Jesus / Unsaulicited.

Nonie Buencamino is Nonie Buencamino.

Any show with Nonie in it will always be entertaining.

I watched Repertory Philippines’ new staging of Man of La Mancha at the REP Eastwood Theater on opening night, and that was the most immediate thought I had walking out of the theater.

If you are asking whether REP’s Man of La Mancha is worth watching, here is the honest answer.

Yes.

And yes, there is room for refinement.

Both can be true.

Quick take: Repertory Philippines’ Man of La Mancha is a worthwhile restaging of a classic for a new generation. Nonie Buencamino commands the stage, Marvin Ong is the perfect complement to his Don Quixote, and “The Impossible Dream” lands when it matters most. Its most interesting visual concept could have been pushed further, but the production works.

These are my initial thoughts after watching the opening-night performance with Pia Bonalos-Mercado, who will be writing the full Unsaulicited review soon.

REP’s Man of La Mancha 2026: What to Know

Production: Man of La Mancha by Repertory Philippines

Director: Nelsito Gomez

Run: June 5 to 28, 2026

Venue: REP Eastwood Theater, Eastwood City Walk 2, Quezon City

Reviewed performance: Opening Night, Friday, June 5, 2026

Tickets: Available through TicketWorld and Ticket2Me.

For the complete cast, creative team, ticket details, and background behind REP’s return to the classic musical, read the Unsaulicited preview: Nonie Buencamino Returns to Musical Theater in REP’s Man of La Mancha This June.

A Good Restaging for a New Generation

The prison framing works. The play-within-a-play structure comes across clearly, allowing Cervantes to transform the people around him into the characters inhabiting Don Quixote’s world.

The ensemble does a good job of establishing that world and keeping the show moving.

The most interesting staging choice is Julio Garcia’s use of forced perspective in the bookend sets. It immediately gives the production its own look.

I just wish the idea had been pushed further.

You see the visual choice. You appreciate it. You understand that the staging wants to say something specific. But the production does not establish its uniqueness enough for that specific takeaway to fully land.

That is not a deal breaker.

The world is clear. The storytelling works. The production is accessible even for audiences encountering Man of La Mancha for the first time.

As a restaging for a new generation, it works.

Nonie Buencamino and a Cast That Makes the Material Work

Buencamino knows exactly when Don Quixote needs to be funny and when the character needs to be completely sincere.

He commands the stage without making it look difficult.

Marvin Ong’s Sancho Panza is the perfect complement to Buencamino’s Don Quixote. Ong brings warmth and humor to the role, but his Sancho never feels like someone who is there only for comic relief.

Their scenes work because Sancho feels like an actual companion.

You root for them.

Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante shines as always. Truly, for Mikkie, there are never any small roles. Even with limited stage time as Antonia, she makes her moments count.

Tarek El Tayech’s comedic timing also delivers.

Every time.

Katrine Sunga gives Aldonza the strength the role demands. Her voice is a treat to hear.

I only wanted to see a little more vulnerability underneath that toughness. That would have made Aldonza more endearing and her emotional journey even more affecting.

Kabaitan Bautista’s sound design also satisfies, forgiving a few technical issues during the opening performance.

Does “The Impossible Dream” Land?

Yes.

The first time you hear “The Impossible Dream,” the moment works.

It is the emotional high point of the show. The number does not land simply because the audience already knows the song. The production earns the moment.

The feeling stays with you throughout the musical, although its later return does not hit quite as strongly as the first.

That first performance is the one that stays.

Is REP’s Man of La Mancha Worth Watching?

Yes.

REP’s Man of La Mancha does not need to completely reinvent the classic to make its case.

It gives the musical a clear and accessible staging for audiences discovering it now. The ensemble keeps the story moving. The cast makes the material work. Its most distinctive visual concept could have been pushed further, but that does not stop the production from delivering where it matters.

“The Impossible Dream” lands.

For now, that is enough reason to see it.

REP’s Man of La Mancha runs until June 28, 2026, at the REP Eastwood Theater in Quezon City.

A full Unsaulicited review by Pia Bonalos-Mercado will follow.

Search This Blog

unSAULicited