Cyrano the musical(s)

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 8/5/12 at 3:06pm

Is there anyone who saw both the 1973 and 1993 musical versions of Cyrano on Broadway?

I'm more curious about the Koen van Dijk/Ad van Dijk version since a cast album was never made.

Opinions of these two productions? Why did they both do so poorly?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/5/12 at 3:26pm

I only saw the '73 version and really enjoyed it. The only weak link was Christopher Plummer's singing but Broadway audiences have endured worse with the likes of Lauren Bacall and Gina Gershon. The song "You Have Made Me Love You" was quite lovely.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 8/5/12 at 5:37pm

Oh, I wish I could have seen that. I love the cast album, Plummer's singing voice notwithstanding.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/5/12 at 5:37pm

I really enjoy listening to the Christopher Plummer recording. They recorded a lot of the book so it's sort of like listening to a radio play.

I usually listen to the demo of the Frank Wildhorn version more often though. It's one of his best and more period appropriate scores and if you're a fan of his music it's worth a listen. Douglas Sills is also a great Cyrano.

[After Eight]

Posted: 8/5/12 at 6:02pm

I saw both.

The first had some nice music, but it lacked poetry. Christopher Plummer was great. The design was overly subdued.

The second had some dull music, looked drab, and lacked poetry.

Probably the problem with musicalizing this work is that music is really unnecessary to a story so rich itself in poetry and panache. In fact, additional music actually intrudes upon and undermines these very qualities.

Updated On: 8/5/12 at 06:02 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/5/12 at 8:37pm

Beautifully and concisely put, After Eight! I haven't seen either musical, but knowing the original Rostand, I understand the problem you identify.

[biggs bunny]

Posted: 8/5/12 at 9:52pm

I was a kid on a field trip so take my opinion as such.....We saw the Bway Cyrano and we were bored out of our little minds...Wasn't "Benson" in it?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/5/12 at 10:10pm

^Who the fu@# thought it would be a good idea to take a group of kids to see Cyrano?!? There might not be a ton of objectionable content, but there's also not a whole lot in the story that would really appeal to most kids either.