Cyrano de Bergerac is, in almost every way, the ideal man of Paris’s swashbuckling golden age. He is a brilliant swordsman, rhetorician, philosopher, and poet. His one flaw, however, is enormous: his absurdly long nose. Plagued by this grotesque feature, Cyrano cannot bring himself to woo the beautiful Roxanne, but he does agree to help the handsome young Christian do so. Roxanne falls in love with Christian, not realizing, it is really Cyrano’s capacious soul that she truly loves. Will she learn the truth in time for the lovers to find lasting happiness? Or will the hand of fate keep them forever apart?
“Our production is a brand new version of this classic play,” says Director Todd H. J. Pettigrew. “We painstakingly translated the original French text into crystal-clear English prose, and then rewrote every line into comic verse. The result is a Cyrano that is accessible to modern audiences while still staying true to Rostand’s story and his funny, playful language.”
“We are fortunate to have two of the area’s finest actors in the lead roles,” Pettigrew continues. “Mark Delaney has been a comic juggernaut in Cape Breton theatre since returning to the island a few years ago, and Jenna Lahey is absolutely luminous. It’s easy to see why everyone in the play falls in love with her; everyone in the audience will too.”
“This production really does have something for everyone: gorgeous costumes, hilarious comedy, sword fighting, romance, even a few songs,” notes Pettigrew. “And rolling along in under two hours, the play will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time.”
Cyrano de Bergerac runs February 25 (Pay What You Can), February 26, 27, 28 (Talkback Night), and March 1, at 7pm. The final performance is March 2 at 2pm. Tickets are $12 general, $8 students and seniors, $6 for CBU students, and are available at the CBU Playhouse Box Office. Packages for Dinner at Flavor 19 and theatre subscription packages are also available. To purchase tickets contact CBU Playhouse Box Office at 563-1652. Hours of operation are from 1pm-5pm, Monday to Friday and one hour before show time.
