Showing @ Festival Theatre, Edinburgh until Sat 31 Aug @ 19.30

In the 400 years since Cervantes wrote the first modern novel, Don Quixote has, much like the works of Shakespeare, achieved a highbrow reputation that belies its origins as popular entertainment. In this new production, José Montalvo seeks to deconstruct Cervantes’ story whilst simultaneously restoring its earthy roots.

The production opens with the giant video projections which are the only set to speak of, but it wastes no time in getting down to the comedy. The renowned French comic actor Patrice Thibaud is the lewd and mischievous conductor of proceedings, strolling among the dancers offering commentary, playing puppet master and leering at the female dancers. He wobbles his paunch at the projected windmills, posturing stereotypes of machismo which mainly succeed due to Thibaud’s stage presence and comic timing.

Although this pays homage to Cervantes and to Minkus and Petipa‘s nineteenth century ballet, Quixote fans may be disappointed at the lack of coherent narrative here. Montalvo’s production works best as a joyous celebration of dance itself. The expected ballet melds with many forms of modern street dance as well as flamenco, tap, African and contemporary styles. All are performed impeccably, though often these interludes seem disjointed and occasionally repetitive.

As for Montalvo’s reputation for the visually spectacular, it never quite materialises. The video projections add little to the whole. The first interaction between Thibaud and a giant windmill is wonderfully inventive, but those heights are never achieved again. The films themselves often look shoddy and rarely develop in any meaningful way.

Don Quichotte du Trocadéro has certainly got one aspect of Don Quixote spot on – it’s all down to the audience’s imagination whether this is a production of mythical proportions or merely tilting at windmills.