Goulet, ‘La Mancha’ Go Together Nicely

Robert Goulet as “Man of La Mancha” is a comfortable fit, judging from the touring production at Pasadena Civic Auditorium, later to play Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Goulet’s profile and carriage are more reminiscent of a genuine knight than of the deluded gentleman who imagines he’s the knight Don Quixote in “Man of La Mancha.” This isn’t surprising, considering that Goulet was the original Lancelot in “Camelot.”

However, when he transforms from Cervantes to Don Quixote, he carefully splays his hair in three different directions to make himself look a bit more foolish. His speaking voice remains strong and resonant, but his eyes glass over and the illusion of a slightly demented man is convincing.

Goulet’s singing voice is still vibrant. Occasionally he attacks notes with too much pop-flavored vehemence, but the last part of the note redeems the first.

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In halls as big as Pasadena Civic, Goulet’s aging-movie-star looks and big baritone surely help carry the show to the back row. Not that “Man of La Mancha” should be in halls this big; it’s much better in a room that makes you feel as if you, too, are in the dungeon where it begins.

At least Pasadena Civic felt as cold as a dungeon on Tuesday night; that was the main subject of conversations during intermission (yes, this “La Mancha” takes a break, though the original didn’t and the program for this one indicates otherwise). The temperature probably wasn’t an intended effect, however.

Susan Hoffman sings well as Aldonza/Dulcinea, but her look is too stylish for a kitchen wench. Costumers Howard Bay and Patton Campbell gave her a matching brown leather vest and boots. Hoffman’s delivery of her spoken lines is also too sophisticated.

Darryl Ferrer’s Sancho Panza and the other actors do the usual routines of Albert Marre’s staging of this Dale Wasserman/Mitch Leigh/Joe Darion show with professionalism, but this version unfortunately retains the “Gypsy Dance,” with its hoary ethnic stereotypes.

* “Man of La Mancha,” Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St. Tonight-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m. Ends Sunday. $22-$61. (818) 564-2680. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, Dec. 31-Jan. 5. $19-$49.50. (714) 740-7878, (213) 365-3500. Running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes.