Cyrano
Riverside Theatre — Through Sunday, July 12
Everyone knows the saying: A rose by any other name would surely smell as sweet. Audiences at the Riverside Theatre this summer will soon learn that when it comes to love, tragi-comedic hero Cyrano de Bergerac’s nose knows best.
Riverside Theatre is staging Cyrano, Joe Roets’ adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s 1897 Cyrano de Bergerac, a staple of the French stage and a classic tale of unrequited love based on the memoirs of a 17th Century sword-swinging poet.
The silver-tongued Cyrano pines for the beautiful Roxane, but one obstacle keeps the lovesick swashbuckler from declaring his affections: his “magnificent Mount Everest of a nose”! In a horrible and hilarious turn of events, Cyrano’s rival, the sexy but inarticulate Christian, steals his eloquent love letters in order to woo Roxane himself. But the question remains: Which does Roxane love more — Christian’s visage, or Cyrano’s mind?
“The play works on so many levels: as a piece of dramatic poetry, a moving romance, a thrilling adventure and an always-relevant tale of how self-image can limit our dreams,” said Riverside Theatre’s artistic director Jody Hollands. “The adaptation is tailored for a versatile acting ensemble and imaginative, theatrical staging.”
Cyrano will run until Sunday, July 12.
