Question about Cyrano de Bergerac

[winston89]

Posted: 9/14/12 at 12:07pm

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?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/14/12 at 12:08pm

Same 3 hour play.

[ggersten]

Posted: 9/14/12 at 12:22pm

The same translation?

[Kad]

Posted: 9/14/12 at 4:40pm

It is a different translation.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/14/12 at 4:53pm

It's being performed in French with English supertitles.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/14/12 at 6:56pm

^That would be cool.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/14/12 at 6:57pm

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

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 9/14/12 at 7:57pm

This production is running 2 hr 35min including the intermission.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/14/12 at 11:34pm

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.

[musicman_bwayfan]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 12:14am

How was Clémence Poésy?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 12:22am

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.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 12:36am

I honest to God can't remember a show I wanted to see less than this one.

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 12:42am

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

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 12:46am

I wasn't looking forward to it either. I will say I enjoyed it slightly more than Grace.

After Eight- I completely agree with you. There was no poetry in this translation. It was very clunky, and most of the line readings exacerbated the fact.

[Kad]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 1:23am

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.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 7:06am

Eugh. I’m seeing it next Sunday, I hope it’s in better shape by then.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 8:22am

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

Is this Rostand's Cyrano or Wassertein's?

[matty159]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 10:50am

For the most part, I am pretty much in agreement with what everyone has said about last night. I was not looking forward to the evening at all after a long day at work and knowing the running time. The good news is that it wasn't miserable...the bad being that it just wasn't great.

Lacing the translation with profanity was completely unnecessary and it completely stood out as awkward. Further, everything just sounded non-lyrical altogether. And when it was coming across lyrical, it sounded ridiculous.

As others have said, Patrick Page came across the best. Hodge will hopefully find his groove in the roll as he was quite good in several scenes. Posey has the most work to do...a very uneven performance and accent.

The set, costumes, and sound design were nice. I know that is a bland statement, but that is what they were!

I was worried we were in for a marathon when act one ended at 9:45, but was pleased when we were out the door by 11. The reception seemed mixed with a smattering of a standing ovation. I was just rather "meh" on it. It's much better than what Roundabout is torturing folks with over at the Pels, but I certainly won't be revisiting this one anytime during the run. I've done my time.

Here's hoping Roundabout knocks it out of the park with Drood. (Though I only have so much room to complain when I only pay $10 for tickets to see these shows during the first handful of previews.)

[macnyc]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 11:20am

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

[goldenboy]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 12:44pm

I detested Douglas Hodge as Albin in La Cage.
I was appalled when he won the Tony.
I have seen way too many Cyrano's
I haven't seen this production .... but I can't imagine any show I'd like to see less.

[matty159]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 2:28pm

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).

[ChanceEncounter]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 2:47pm

I have a completely different opinion than everyone apparently. I LOVED last nights performance. I will concede that the translation was at times distracting, the infusion of modernisms sometimes fell flat but over all I enjoyed it. I found the performances to be engaging and emotionally ripe. I didn't have a problem with the run time.

MY biggest issue of the night was the sound design. At times the music used during the show was much too loud, making it difficult to hear the actors. Especially in the scene just before the curtain fell at the end of the first act.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 4:37pm

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?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 9:46pm

I saw today's matinee and rather enjoyed it. I do agree that the new translation is a problem. I have the original French version somewhere in this house and will be combing through it to see if Rostand chose anything close to the vulgarisms that pop up in this version. In my mind they just weren't necessary.

I'm surprised that no one here has commented on the nose that Hodge wears in this production. It's not as long some other Cyranos have worn but it's truly misshapen and rather gross.

[macnyc]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 11:42pm

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.