Question about Cyrano de Bergerac

Is this version of Cyrano de Bergerac, done by Roundabout, the same play that was on Broadway a couple of years ago? Or is it a different play based on the same story?

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The same translation?

It's being performed in French with English supertitles.

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It's not true. It's Grandma's attempt at humor.

PlayItAgain- Be wary of anything you find on a Roundabout website about run times! This one ran 3 hours with intermission tonight.

It wasn't the worst thing I've seen at Roundabout, nor in the American Airlines for that matter, but it's still in pretty rough shape.

I don't claim to be an expert on Cyrano translations, but this was a weird one. There were anachronisms and it was peppered with four letter words in what I assume was an attempt to make it feel "fresh" for a "modern audience."

The direction is also all over the place. Parts of the play were campy or like we were in a Disney movie. I half expected characters to burst into "Be Our Guest." The scene in the bakery was so over the top, and then the balcony scene was deathly dull.

Douglas Hodge is still finding his character. Right now it reminded me of Mark Rylance in "La Bete." I think he did best at the end, which still remains touching when Roxanna learns the truth. His opening scene was still in Zaza mode- he did his La Cage cavalcade of accents, etc. I realize it's a difficult role, and I bet he finds a stronger foothold, but tonight he was trying a dozen different things and seeing what would stick.

I thought Kyle Soller did a nice job as Christian, even if he didn't look quite like the hunky Christian I envision. It says a lot that Patrick Page is the most understated actor on the stage. Everyone else in the cast is playing it too broadly.

The costumes were very nice.

This is definitely the type of play that will need a week or two for the performances to settle in. If there is a good production here Roundabout hasn't found it yet.

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She had her ups and downs. Her accent was all over the place. I guess she was born in France and speaks English (mostly) with a British accent. Her best work was done in the final scene, but I thought the war scene was rough- in that scene she was a cross between Annie Oakley and Pippi Longstocking.

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Douglas Hodge seemed be all over the map with this one, though seldom in the right place. His performance offers a different take on Cyrano. It was curious in that it was sometimes campy, but never sufficiently outsized. His raspy voice did not serve the part well. When used at a high pitch, it seemed inspired by Zaza, when lowered it sounded like Tallulah with a British accent. I would say that neither of these grandes dames is the ideal model for Cyrano de Bergerac.

The translation fumbled the ball. Wholly apart from the anachronisms that prompted derisive titters, it was ungainly, unrhythmic, and robbed the piece of its essential musicality and poetry. If you're not going to respect the spirit of the words, then you may as well make cuts to make it more manageable timewise for today's audiences.

Some scenes were lively in a cartoonish way, but others were moribund.

The design was appropriate and attractive.

Patrick Page came off best among the actors.

Updated On: 9/15/12 at 12:42 AM

This is one of my favorite plays and, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and romantic ever written. It's a shame about the translation.

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After reading these posts, I now want an answer to Winston's question more than ever.

Is this Rostand's Cyrano or Wassertein's?

matty, how are the $10 Cyrano seats? I'm seeing it tonight, and dragging my husband, so I hope it isn't too awful!

macnyc, I never have an issue with the $10 seats at American Airlines. We were on the side in row D (or maybe E...I don't remember) and it was just fine. We barely missed anything going on and the leg room is infinitely better than at Studio 54. I am already dreading seeing Drood from the $10 seats up in that rear mezz (I'm 6'4'...it is painful up there).

That's a shame about the translation. Why would anyone want to take a play full of beautiful, witty language and make it all clunky?

It is a pretty fearsome nose! I really enjoyed the performance. It was my first exposure to Cyrano, so I'm not an expert. But I thought it moved well and it held my interest, despite the length. The sets, staging and lighting were beautiful. The battle scene was simply awesome, great use of light and sound. Hodge was amazing, maybe a little over the top at times, but I guess that's the role. The translation and the use of four-letter words didn't bother me.