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Moments of vulnerability, lyrical charm and romantic tension define this retelling of a classic.Summary
Rating
Excellent
Virginia Gay’s take on Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac is an electric Queer love story filled with wit and tenderness. Gay plays the titular character but does not wear a prosthetic nose, instead, the chorus, known as 1 (Tessa Wong), 2 (David Tarkenter), and 3 (Tanvi Virmani), refer to it in horrified hushed tones.
There is an emphasis on the ‘start’ of the show with the chorus debating which scene should go first and how the story should proceed. Yet it feels as if it’s already begun, with the cast interacting with the audience as they enter the auditorium and find their seats. Thankfully, there is not a lot of audience participation throughout the show, but instead little comments aimed at the audience here and there.
The plot remains close to the original. The fearless Roxanne, played by Jessica Whitehurst falls in love with ultra-fit Christian, who goes by Yan (Joseph Evans). Cyrano helps Yan woo Roxanne with her words, despite loving her herself. This is exemplified in the brilliantly staged balcony scene; Roxanne looks down at Yan from a staircase – oblivious to Cyrano standing behind him, but we must suspend our disbelief. Yan repeats Cyrano’s words until a string of humorous malapropisms slips out, prompting Cyrano to take control of the conversation and speak herself.
This reimagination feels fresh with updated references, such as Gay announcing that she would be “holding space for the lyrics of Cyrano” – referring to the viral Wicked interview. Other funny moments include Tarkenter delightfully dancing around the stage to loud music and flashing disco lights. Yet, at times these musical interludes seem to drag a touch too long, but they do break up some of the more sombre moments of the play.
The stage was fairly bare, with only a staircase, a piano and building blocks arranged like a podium, where 1, 2, and 3 sit respectively. At the back of the blocks is a large mirror which allows the audience to see the actors’ faces when they turn away. This is very helpful to see Gay’s and Whitehurst’s incredible acting during their argument scene. As Whitehurst storms off stage, the heaviness in the air in the theatre becomes palpable. For a moment, the audience is frozen, unsure of what to do after witnessing such a pivotal disagreement.
Gay’s Cyrano is accessible, retaining the beautiful poetic language without the pomp, making it something everyone can understand and appreciate. With a happy mixture of unusual and silly metaphors with discussions of what makes a poet a poet, Cyrano balances the jovial with the poignant. The biggest difference of the story is the happy ending. It’s refreshing to see a Queer love story that concludes with joy and hope, a perfect feel-good treat for the Christmas season.
Produced by Roast Productions
Directed by: Clare Watson
Set and costume designed by: Amanda Stoodley
Lighting designed by: Andy Purves
Sound designed by: Toby Young
Cyrano plays at Park Theatre until Saturday 11th January. Further information and booking details can be found here.
