An Everyman Knight Errant: Performing Don Quijote in Las cortes de la muerte

This article describes the unique experience White had as a graduate student of portraying Don Quijote in an adaptation of Las cortes de la muerte by Brigham Young University’s Spanish Golden Age Theater program. In the production, Don Quijote and Sancho stumble into the auto and adopt the roles of Hombre and Ángel, respectively. This unique combination brokers new intertextual possibilities that enhance the dramatic experience: as an everyman knight errant, Don Quijote’s literary identity folds into the religious character of Hombre; Sancho’s faithful companionship translates into Ángel’s constant camaraderie; and the auto’s glancing references to giants, disenchantments, and shepherds resonate with common themes explored throughout the Quijote.