Cyrano de Bergerac Richard Rodgers Theater Play Revival 2 hours & 50 mins with 1 intermission (act 1= 1:45/ act 2=:50) 10/27 2 pm Tix Price $ 21.50 + 10.15 fees/processing=$31.65 (REAR BALCONY)
"I need eloquence, and I have none!" ........by Christian from the play
I have seen four play revivals so far- Old Acquaintance, The Ritz, Pygmalion & Cyrano de Bergerac and I think that I have seen the Best Play Revival on a rainy & soggy day yesterday. This production is like watching a painting in my Rear Balcony seat at the Richard Rodgers Theater . Everything is in perfect harmony... the staging, the lighting, the sound design, the acting and the direction. It is indeed theater at its best!
..Yet there is something still that will always be mine, and when I go to God's presence, there I'll doff it and sweep the heavenly pavement with a gesture - something I'll take unstained out of this world...my "panache " (by Cyrano from the play)
SPOILERS BELOW : Do not read below... Just pass and proceed to photos.
9 Things I LIKE about the Play (out of 10)
1. The Staging : One of the best scenic design I have seen. The stage is basically composed of wooden floors , brick walls and a large stairs at the back. It serve so perfectly with the changing of the scenery.. the convent, the balcony with a huge moon , the battlefield and so on.. I love the silky curtain (blue ) at the the beginning that moves so gracefuly and flawlessly. They used the curtains to change scenery too...the curtains are somewhat see-thru , so every time they change the scenery, you can see what's going on.
Special mention :
a. balcony scene with huge moon ....end of act 1 when the moon goes down to the stage--beautifully executed.
b. theater scene with candles all over the place and a candlelit chandelier... Note: they used REAL, LIVE candles- so when you come in the theater and see the stage, its somewhat "smoky" create that ambiance of Old French.. I just love it.. from begining.
c. battle scene- the tree dangling on the floor with curtain (landscape design) at the background of PARYS (Paris) , ladders, and beams going down on the stage.
d. convent scene with all the candles hanging. very serene and beautiful with the red fall leaves falling down.
2. Sound Design- beggining of Act 2. I got startled bec. when they started it . I was unprepared ... loud sounds of cannons & guns and blue silky curtain moves to Stage Left...
3. Kevin Kline's acting- superb ! and his sword fights are very well chreographed.
4. Jennifer Garner- suprisingly-she is EXCELLENT & very funny.
5. Daniel Sunjata- very good as Christian too specially the balcony scene with Roxanne & Cyrano, though I felt sometimes he is bit overacting.
6. Supporting Roles - Chris Sarandon as Comte de Guiche and Concetta Tomei as Roxanne's Duenna/Sister Marthe-though her role is small.
7. The Direction of David Leveax- he made this old play very visual and enjoyable.
8. My tix is $21.50 .. total of $ 31.65 ... I sat at the REAR Balcony .. I had no problems with hearing the dialogues.. seems like they were mic'd. The production photos does not do good justice.. its soo different when you see it onstage.. you see the whole picture... My ticket is cheap and worth every penny I paid.
9. Curtains. I have a special fascination with stage curtains . I know that this may be a part of the whole scenic design.. but definitely I will put it on my LIKE list for several reasons.
a. Dramatic Curtain/Parys landscape falling down as they discovered Christian wounded and being carried by soldiers going down stairs..very dramatic !
b. Curtain Call- One reason why I love theater so much is bec. of the Curtain Call, you dont get that in the movie.. Few of my favorite Curtain Call are Journey's End (raising of the curtain when all those who died are standing with all their names on a memorial ) The Ritz (The Last Dance by Donna Summer ) and of course this one...
Cyrano died in the arms of Roxanne (while she is weeping and seating down)
then
Red Silky Curtain fell down and covered the entire stage.
finally
Red Silky Curtain fell down again(on the floor) on its entirety to reveal all cast standing onstage to take a bow and whole curtain was pulled from stage right.
I just love it !!!
1 Things I DID NOT LIKE about the Play (out of 10)
1. I just have a minor complaint.. its just a little loooong..2 hours and 50 minutes. It can be boring specially at the beginning, but it picks up after the sword fight, then the balcony scene.
IN SUMMARY : I really enjoyed this play and definitely its a MUST SEE , specially it will only be playing for 10 weeks. I guess . I will end this with one of the universal theme of the play which we probably seen it several times in a movie bec. it was recycled so many times. Cyrano's extremely large nose which symbolizes his doubts in himself. All of us have doubts in ourselves & insecurities which someday we must overcome.
and Cyrano replies "I'll lend you mine! Lend me your conquering physical charm, and together we'll form a romantic hero!" - and that is the hardest temptation.
Score: 9/1- I LIKE IT !
J*
The Richard Rodgers Theater
THE CRITICS' MATINEE
Can you spot Mr. Ben Brantley ?
The Richard Rodgers Gallery (downstairs)
PRODUCTION PHOTOS : (courtesy of Playbill.com)
THE PLAYBILL :
STAGE DOOR PHOTOS:
Jennifer Garner
Daniel Sunjata
Euan Morton
Later
Time to go home
My Autographed Playbill by Jennifer Gardner, Daniel Sunjata & Euan Moton
Thanks very very much for the pictures, jaystar- wow, theres a lot! I would say thanks for the review, but due to spoilers, and me seeing the show from first row this Saturday night...yeah, I didn't read it. But thanks a lot, and I'm glad you enjoyed the show :)
My 2007/2008 Season:
Grey Gardens (7/5)
110 in the Shade (7/6)
Mary Poppins (7/7)
Xanadu (7/7)
Deuce (7/8)
Spamalot (7/8)
Jersey Boys (8/25)
The Year of Magical Thinking (8/25)
Mauritius (11/2)
Young Frankenstein (11/3)
Rock 'N' Roll (11/3)
Pygmalion (11/4)
Mauritius (11/10)
Mauritius (11/21) Mauritius (11/21)
Sunday in the Park with George (3/6)
South Pacific (3/7)
Gypsy (3/8)
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (3/9)
As much as I hate this play, I thought this production was quite beautiful. Unfortunately my seat was in the second row on the right and the side lights from the stage were in my face the ENTIRE show. I literally had to cover half my face for most of the performance.
I was quite suprised at how well Jennifer Garner handled herself. Not the revelation that Danes was, but certainly a capable actress.
Thanks Jaystarr. I always love your pictures and enthusiasm. I really love the falling leaves...nice touch in the show and a nice touch in your post!
"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
1. When did you buy your $20 ticket? Was it recently or a while ago? And did you buy it at the box office or online?
Awhile ago when they announced it. To be precise. I purchased by ticket on Sept 8. online
2. Is Jennifer Garner still taking pictures at the stage door with people?
Yes and I want to stress that she is very nice. The stage door last Saturday matinee (10/27) was a mob. I came out really late, since I was sitting on REAR BALCONY and Richard Rodgers Balcony was a hike... going upstairs and downstairs.
When I went out .. the stage door was full, probbably 100-150 people. Jennifer Garner came out.. everyone was clapping, she bowed (playfully), she signed everyone's playbill. I cannot get near her .. I just pass my playbill and she signed it. There were tons of people.. you need to have your camera ready.. All came out.. except Kevin Kline...
Have you noticed? .. I have no pictures with the stars bec. it was soo crowded .. I was just pointing and shooting my camera on every directions.
Ooops. I take that back.. I had one with Euan Morton (one of my favorite) Unfortunately my eyes were closed, that's why I cropped the picture. I approached him. No one recognized him. He was very nice. I told him.. I am soo glad you were back on Broadway after Taboo.
Advice: if you want a picture with Jennifer Garner.. leave early during Curtain Call to beat everyone and go to the stage door (on your left as you exit the theater) bec.the crowd could be 100-150 and you wont be able to squeeze in and she signs autographs very very fast and there's a car waiting for her right away.
One of the most disorganized stage door crowd that I have seen this season. People pushing one another, trying to squeeze in to get near her.
I went to today's performance. What an absolutely splendid show!
"Nothing's lost forever. In this world, there is a kind of painful progress. Longing for what we've left behind, and dreaming ahead." -Tony Kushner's Angels in America
Thanks! I'm not going or anything, I was just curious. I couldn't tell when I saw "Tarzan" back in July, there were people everywhere (I saw it the day before it closed).
I'd go if I could, but I'm in Pennsylvania
Just wanted to make sure! Great review, jaystarr! Updated On: 10/28/07 at 07:50 PM
hey jaystarr i totally took your euan morton picture!! =)
"But I relish every brillant inspired moment. This is who I'm determined to be- an actor/singer/dancer-no, I take that back, this is who I am. These people are my tribe, my destiny. I know it.
-How I Paid for College; A story of sex, theft, friendship and musical theater.
So there's two Euan's fans there, huh? Yeah we were talking about Taboo and Showbussiness DVD. He is such a cutie ! too bad .. no one but us recognize him ? except us.
So whatcha think about that mob scene at the stage door last Saturday?
"I mean, sitting side by side with another man watching Patti LuPone play Rose in GYPSY on Broadway is essentially the equivalent of having hardcore sex." -Wanna Be A Foster.
"Say 'Goody.' Say 'Bubbi.'" ... "That's it. Exactly as if it were 'Goody.' Now I know you're gonna sing 'Goody' this time, but nevertheless..."
I LOVVVVVVED this play. The lights, the acting, the staging...simply incredible. It was raining too hard on the day I went to wait for autographs at the stage door, but I must say that I was bowled over by Daniel Sunjata's stage presence and acting chops. I have been a fan of Rescue Me for years now, and also saw him in Take Me out, but seeing him command the stage with such grace and authority in a classical piece just solidified him in my mind as the real deal. I never knew he had it in him to demonstrate such range. I'll definitely go back for a second viewing IF I can score tix again. Of course Kline was amazing, and Garner definitely did not disappoint, but considering he has the smallest of the three roles, I really thought Mr. Sunjata made the most of every second he spent on the stage. He was funny, sexy, wildly charming, and oh so intense when the play came to a climax in the second act. See this play if its the only ticket you buy this season; SOOOO WORTH IT!!
I agree with almost everything you stated above. The lights, sets, and costumes were just beautiful. Everything seemed entirely appropriate, especially with having the tree being an almost metaphorical anchor.
I went into it not sure what to expect, since it didn't seem like the type of play I'd ordinarily like, but it didn't disappoint. Garner really surprised me, although I did find her a little campy in certain spots where it didn't seem to work. I liked Sunjata, too, but agree that he may have overacted a bit, but I think that almost goes with the part of Christian. Defintely a must see this season.
I'm glad you liked your photo! You should have kept yourself in the picture it was a really nice one!!
I'm glad you got to see him since he was just literally about to go back in to take a nap lol
"But I relish every brillant inspired moment. This is who I'm determined to be- an actor/singer/dancer-no, I take that back, this is who I am. These people are my tribe, my destiny. I know it.
-How I Paid for College; A story of sex, theft, friendship and musical theater.
BTW- I would like to add about the incidental music by Lucas Papelias & Alexander Sovronsky- just beautiful. It was used when that beautiful curtains moves across the stage to change scenery ...
Also special mention to Fred Rose (last year's Company) who plays the cello on stage with a group of musician (Lucas Papaelias-guitar & Alexander Sovronsky-violin/mandolin) in the balcony scene- yes .. the music is LIVE !
Leenya Rideout (last year's Company) for Vocal arrangement that was used in this production.
Kevin Kline sang a little bit here.. a verse or two...
I am not really well verse when it comes to Classical Music, but it seems to me that the music they played after the Curtain Call was Baroque Music ( I stand corrected, okay? )- very beautiful !
Everything is just beautiful in this play. Dont miss it !