NEW YORK—Kevin Kline shines in the title role of Edmond Rostand's 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac. Translated and adapted by Anthony Burgess, it's been given a winning, if somewhat uneven, Broadway revival.
In 1640 Paris, Cyrano is not only a member of the famed Gasconey Guards, but also a drama critic, satirist, and poet. An irreverent sort, with a deadly sword (and wit), he cares nothing for what people think of him. It's an attitude that has earned him both many enemies and admirers. He also has an unusual attribute, one no one dares mention and which causes Cyrano to feel ugly and unloved—an enormous nose.
Cyrano has long been in love with his beautiful cousin Roxane (Jennifer Garner) but has never had the courage to tell her. When she falls for Christian (Daniel Sunjata) a new member of the regiment, and he with her, Cyrano so wishes for her happiness that he helps the tongue-tied Christian win her heart by writing poems and notes of love, which Christian claims as his. Just when as it seems all will be well for the two lovers, Comte De Guiche (Chris Sarandon), Cyrano's superior and a frustrated suitor for Roxane's hand, orders Cyrano's regiment to the battlefield, where tragedy awaits.
The first act is joyous to watch, with quiet encounters side by side with instances of swordplay; not to mention various verbal witticisms and the valor of men who know they may soon die, all blending together wonderfully. The set by Tom Pye is excellent as is the costumes by Gregory Gale, lighting by Don Holder, and sound design by David van Tieghem. In a nice bit of reversal, we see men reduced to their basest emotions, with De Guiche, Cyrano, and Christian all showing what they will do for love (as well as their reaction when they think this love is gone.) The Roxanne character however, comes across as rather one-dimensional, though that may be a fault of the script rather than the actress as the character is more reactive than anything else.
Unfortunately, the story falters a bit in Act II, which is really one long denouement with too much exposition about and "telling" rather than "showing" the fate of the characters. Direction by David Leveaux, like the show itself, works better earlier rather than later.
At the center of it all is Kline, commanding the stage with every jest, line, and movement he makes, be it racing off to battle or trying to tell Roxanne how he really feels. Sunjata is good as Christian who, like Cyrano, learns too late that often love and heartbreak go hand in hand. Sarandon is fine as De Guiche. Also fun is Carman Lacivita, whose character runs afoul of Cyrano's temper and sword.
Not quite as perfect as it could be, Cyrano de Bergerac is still quite satisfying, even if it takes a bit too long to get where it needs to be in the end.
Also in the cast are Max Baker, John Douglas Thompson, Concetta Tomei, Euan Morton, Peter Jay Fernandez, MacIntyre Dixon, Tom Bloom, Baylen Thomas, Piter Marek, Carman Lacivita, Daniel Steward Sherman, Nance Williamson, Fred Rose, Thomas Schall, Lucas Papaelias, Alexander Sovronsky, Kate Guyton, Ginifer King, Davis Duffield, Keith Eric Chappelle, Leenya Rideout, Stephen Balantzian, and Amefika El-Amin.
Cyrano de Bergerac
Richard Rodgers Theatre
226 West 46th Street
Tickets: 212-307-4100 or www.ticketmaster.com
Closes: December 23, 2007
Running Time: Approximately 2 Hour 35 Minutes
Judd Hollander is the New York correspondent for the London publication The Stage.
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