Is Cyrano musical-izable?

I could probably do it correctly.


What's it about?

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The same was said of PYGMALION (most notably by Rodgers & Hammerstein) and yet Lerner & Loewe prevailed, so never say never.

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That's a good point, MB...I hadn't thought of it like that. However, think about Light in the Piazza - if we had THAT type of music, and simply brilliant (they would HAVE to be brilliant) lyrics to match, it SHOULD be possible. If Guettel, or Ricky Ian Gordon took a stab at it, I don't see why it COULDN'T work. The versions that have come along have been too traditionally "showtune" to work. Has there ever been a successful opera of the story?

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Jason - thats not really true. The Christopher Plummer CYRANO, which I guess was the *most succesful* of the flop musical versions gave most of the actual "singing" to Roxanne - keeping the majority of Cyrano's speeches (wisely) as spoken dialogue.

StageManager makes an excellent point regarding PYGMALION - though you could just as well argue that the conceit of Shaw's piece is the power in the way language is spoken as opposed to the power in the way spoken sentences are put together (CYRANO) which would make it even more difficult to pull off. I guess my feeling is that Cyrano's gift, as a character, is the rare gift he has with poetry. Since songs in musicals are generally rooted in a rhyme (and thus a form of poetry) - musicalizing the play (assuming other characters sing) robs Cyrano of the power of his language.

I'm sure there is a way for CYRANO to be musicalized successfully. I think probably there is a "way" anything *could* find a voice through music, but clearly its going to take a talent greater than a Frank Wildhorn to pull it off.

I for one find the basic flaws to adapting Rostand's play to be so daunting, I would certainly never attempt it.

Updated On: 1/13/07 at 05:09 PM

Who musicalized A CLOCKWORK ORANGE? I know its been done on stage but a musical? That's news to me, though I suppose if the characters sing in "nadsat" there'd be some interesting lyrics and rhyme schemes...

Wow, talk about properties I'd never thing of for musicalization! Clockwork Orange? How did they do the rape scene?

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It will be funny if Wildhorn pulls it off

He has a few things going against him

1. The critics rabid hatred of him
2. The fact that many critics apparently feel Musical Cyranos
are one step above Jukebox musicals

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"If musicals can be made of Evil Dead, A Clockwork Orange, Metropolis & Mutiny on the Bounty anything can be musicalized "

But I do think the question was really whether it can be musicalized successfully. Although I guess you think the answer is yes, MrRoxy, since you liked the Plummer and the Dutch versions.

And, theoretically at least, just about anything can be musicalized successfully if the right approach is taken with sufficient skill.

There has been an opera, by Franco Alfano (who completed Puccini's Turandot). It never found a strong place in the repertory, but was brought back at the Met a couple of years ago for Placido Domingo because he wanted to do it. Otherwise, it wouldn't have come back.

I'd like to hear the Maltby-Shire version. I do like "Autumn."

Updated On: 1/13/07 at 05:57 PM

It's funny! Frank Wildhorn IS writing a version. Here's what his website says:

Cyrano is Frank's next collaboration with Leslie Bricusse (Jekyll & Hyde), based on the classic work by Edmond Rostand.
Frank provided an update on this show in his August 2006 interview with BroadwayWorld.com. Bob Tomson (Blood Brothers) is now attached to the project as director. The show will be produced by Bill Kenwright. Specific plans have not been finalized, but possibilities are being explored for both London's West End and the United States. Keep an eye on this website for updates.
A concept recording is currently in development for this show, by GlobalVision Records

Updated On: 1/13/07 at 08:48 PM

I think it should be left as a play. I agree with MB that Cyrano is, in effect, about the beauty of the spoken word. The songs would probably either get in the way of the play, or be overly dramatic/cheesy. Or both. But you never know, I guess. Never say never.

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I'm not quite sure what you mean BTA - are you saying he should be the only character to sing?

I must say that I love most of the Wildhorn music sung by Linda Eder, and I thought Jekyll and Hyde was wonderful, but his CYRANO is total and complete bomb!!!!!! It's terrible!!!!...With a capital T!!!!! I've heard the entire score and it needs so much work, it's not even worth a concept recording...Truly awful...

Just my opinion...