Cyrano Is a Feast of Language, Poetic and Beautiful

We all know someone who is a victim of the self-imposed "I'm not good enough" syndrome. Some of us might even be that person. Do we, however, know anyone who could compose a poem while winning a fencing duel? Do we know anyone who is eloquent enough to be able to supply a friend with the words that will win the heart of their own love interest? And is the person in question convinced nonetheless that they are "not good enough"?

In short, is it possible that we actually know (or are) Cyrano?

The Blue Box Theatre Company opened their production of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac on Friday, Aug. 23rd, at the Honeysuckle Tea House in Chapel Hill, where it plays through Sunday, Aug. 25th. It then plays Aug. 30-Sept. 1 and Sept. 6-8 at the Center for Regenerative Agriculture at Union Grove Farm in Hillsborough. Cameron Waters directs, and the script has been judiciously edited by Grace Siplon.

Note: The Honeysuckle production is outdoors (but under a roof). Friday's cool temperature made it quite pleasant.

The Play:

Cyrano is a romantic comedy with some tragic elements. Rather than a love triangle, it contains a love "polyhedron." That is, Roxane is the love interest of Cyrano, of Christian, and of De Guiche.

Roxane is in love with Christian due to handsome looks.

Christian harbors a love for Roxane, but feels inadequately eloquent to pursue her and therefore unworthy.

Cyrano is deeply in love with Roxane, but considers themself to be ugly and therefore unworthy.

De Guiche is a powerful person who seeks to possess Roxane (who has no reciprocal interest).

Cyrano supplies Christian with the words with which to woo Roxane, and Roxane begins to love Christian for their soul (while unaware that it is actually the soul of Cyrano that has been bared to her). Will she marry one of her suitors? Will any of these characters find romantic fulfilment?

Cyrano is also a play about self-definition and self-awareness. How much do we limit ourselves by dwelling on what we perceive to be our shortcomings?

Blue Box performs this play "in the round" (however, Friday night's audience was on three sides only). Characters enter from every direction, and the action stays lively throughout.

The Acting:

Every one of the characters is engaging -- they all project a measure of charisma that pulls the audience in. A successful performance requires strong work from the principals. Missy Sullivan (as Cyrano), Emily Levinstone (as Roxane), Daniel Cryer-Muthedath Ryder (as Christian), and Dylan Silver (as De Guiche) all fit the bill nicely.

Rachel Horowitz-Andrews (as Le Bret) and Chella Anderson (as Ragueneau) also rock.

Pamela Alberda, Laird Davis, Graham Franklin, Grace Fox, Rebecca Ashley Jones, Lucian Silver, and Erin Turner all capably create multiple supporting characters.

The Tech:

Technical director Matt St. Lawrence and stage manager Laura Pennachi oversee this aspect. Producer Grace Siplon handles the wide variety of costumes and props. Especially elegant is Roxane's outfit.

The set consists of a few platforms and chairs that work nicely to create multiple locations. Clay Berg is credited with set construction.

Nice Touches:

• The use of multiple entrance and exit locations and the "peripheral action" that we could see as characters approach their entrances and proceed after their exits.
• We hear a recipe recited in verse.
• Characters "hitting the dirt" to hide behind platforms.
• We hear a gunshot immediately after hearing the word "ugly."
• The program includes an insert with a scene-by-scene plot summary. My suggestion: ARRIVE EARLY ENOUGH TO PERUSE IT!

Memorable Lines:

• "Eclipse yourself!"
• "Rascally flat-footed lout!"
• "People talk; eyes speak."
• "Poets have our pockets full of love letters."
• "... each well-weighed word ...."
• "You have written to her oftener than you think."
• "I will be loved for myself or not at all."

From the Department of Picky-Picky:

In one scene we witness Cyrano writing a very long letter with a quill pen. The problem is there's no ink well in which to dip the tip!

Many of the characters have lace trimming on the cuffs of their pants. At first, I considered this to be a "nice touch"; but, because it is "many" rather than "all," I found myself distracted as I tried to perceive a pattern or a significance.

The Bottom Line:

Cyrano is a feast of language that everyone should experience -- poetic and beautiful. In addition, it is a story that everyone should hear. The Blue Box Theatre Company serves the feast and tells the story with aplomb.

I heartily recommend it. But let me repeat: arrive early enough to read the summary inserted in the program. Allow time, also, to read the director's note. Doing so will greatly enhance your experience and appreciation of the play.

Grace Siplon's adaptation of Edmond Rostand's CYRANO DE BERGERAC (In Person at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23-25, in Chapel Hill and Aug. 30-Sept. 1 and Sept. 6-8 in Hillsborough), directed by Cameron Waters (Blue Box Theatre Company at the Honeysuckle Tea House in Chapel Hill and the Center for Regenerative Agriculture at Union Grove Farm in Hillsborough). PRESENTER: https://www.blueboxtheatrecompany.org/, https://www.facebook.com/bbxtheatre, https://www.instagram.com/theblueboxtheatre/, and https://twitter.com/BBXTheatre. 2024 SEASON: https://www.blueboxtheatrecompany.org/season. VENUE (Honeysuckle Tea House in Chapel Hill): https://www.thehoneysuckleteahouse.com/, https://www.facebook.com/thehoneysuckleteahouse, https://www.instagram.com/thehoneysuckleteahouse/, and https://linktr.ee/thehoneysuckleteahouse. DIRECTIONS: https://www.google.com/maps/. VENUE (Center for Regenerative Agriculture in Hillsborough): https://www.ugfcra.com/, https://instagram.com/uniongrovefarmvineyard, and https://www.linkedin.com/company/union-grove-farm-and-vineyard. DIRECTIONS: https://www.bing.com/maps. CYRANO DE BERGERAC (1897 Five-Act Romantic Comedy in Verse): https://www.cyranoandrostand2.com/, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/cyrano-de-bergerac-2872, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cyrano-de-Bergerac-play-by-Rostand, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrano_de_Bergerac_(play). THE SCRIPT (excerpts): https://books.google.com/books. STUDY GUIDE (Utah Shakespeare Festival): https://www.bard.org/study-guides/cyrano-de-bergerac-study-guide/. EDMOND ROSTAND (French poet and playwright, nee Edmond Eugène Alexis Rostand, 1868-1918): https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/edmond-rostand-5232, https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/french-literature-biographies/edmond-rostand, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edmond-Rostand, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_Rostand. TICKETS (Honeysuckle Tea House in Chapel Hill): $30 ($25 students and seniors), plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. TICKETS (Center for Regenerative Agriculture in Hillsborough): $30 ($25 students and seniors), plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: theblueboxtheatre@gmail.com. PLEASE DONATE TO: Blue Box Theatre Company.

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