Cyrano De Bergerac

Synopsis

Swordsman, poet, philosopher, Cyrano de Bergerac. His musketeer-heroics combine with rapier wit, but the bravado belies a passionate love for his exquisite cousin, Roxane. Too ugly to win her for himself, or so he thinks, he agrees to woo her on behalf of another. His tender verse gives voice to the inarticulate, dashing Christian, gaining him her heart just before both men depart for war. A wildly romantic story laced with swagger, gallantry and sacrifice.

Our Review:

20 April 2004

Here’s something I never quite understood: nose aside, if his skill as a poet is one of the key traits that sets Cyrano de Bergerac apart, why does everyone around him also speak in verse? Even if his rhymes were a thousand times more accomplished, how much more sensible and effective if his supposed inferiors simply stuck to boring old prose?

Of course, neither adaptor Derek Mahon, designer William Dudley nor director Howard Davies can be blamed for a decision taken by Edmond Rostand in his 1897 original, in which the nasally disfigured Cyrano uses his wordplay to help the doltish but handsome Christian win the heart of his own true love, Roxane.

However, there are other faults with this new version that can only be laid at the door of the creative triumvirate. The first in this year’s Travelex £10 season in the Olivier, Cyrano de Bergerac has been brutally stripped down here. Forget the 3-D video projections with which he’s excelled in recent ...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (80.0.8.20) - 22 June 2004:

Well worth missing....

Read more and add your own review