Recent CYRANO musical to be adapted for the screen

[JBroadway]

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/MGM-Acquires-CYRANO-Starring-Peter-Dinklage-Haley-Bennett-Brian-Tyree-Henry-Ben-Mendelsohn-20200804

What a bizarre bit of news. This show got pretty mixed reviews Off-Broadway. Personally I enjoyed it, but I also had some major issues with it. I think it has the potential to make a good film, I guess?

Joe Wright seems like an intuitive choice to direct Cyrano de Bergerac, but not necessarily this version of it. 

I'm disappointed that Jasmine Cephas-Jones won't reprise her role. But I love Brian Tyree Henry - I can't seem to figure out which role he's playing though. Is it Christian? I'm assuming Ben Mendelson will play De Guiche, which makes sense. 

I think the weirdest thing about this announcement is that this musical didn't take off at all. It sold well at first, but tickets were much easier to come by when it extended. The reception from the public was pretty mixed/tepid. 

Also, is this the first stage musical to receive a film adaptation without even receiving an original cast recording? 

[CATSNYrevival]

This was a musical? I assumed it was a play.

[JBroadway]

CATSNYrevival said: "This was a musical? I assumed it was a play."

Yes, it was a brand new musical adaptation - not affiliated with any of the other previous musical adaptations of Cyrano de Bergerac. 

The score was written by the guys from the band The National. The music was actually quite beautiful, IMO. The lyrics...not so much. 

[phan24]

If something is bad I usually just ignore it, but this stage production was worse than bad, one of the worst pieces of theater I’ve seen, I hope the text and score are overhauled.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

MGM –– a company that many thought would have gone under by now –– seems to be really trying to capitalize on musicals. In 2020 alone, it has announced this, Fiddler on the Roof, and a modernized Porgy and Bess. We'll see if any of them actually get made, but it's an interesting angle.

[little_sally]

I can't even imagine having to listen to Dinklage sing again. 

[Kad]

I thought this adaptation was a bore that totally sapped Cyrano, the play and the character, of everything that made them compelling and beloved. Though, I will grant that a lot of my issues came from the production itself, which I found to be very cold with some inexplicable design choices and concepts.

But one of its most baffling adaptation choices was how it totally obfuscated Cyrano's physical difference from everybody else. A few references to a large nose remained, but played so ironically they basically had air quotes around them. Cyrano's famous introductory monologue in which he makes joke after joke about his nose was totally cut rather than adapted to suit Dinklage's stature. Cyrano's feelings of unworthiness seemed to come from nowhere rather than a world that told him he was physically unworthy. It really uprooted a central conceit of the character.

[ClydeBarrow]

No one should be made to suffer through this, especially Dinklage's singing. To call it singing is being very generous.

"I'm disappointed that Jasmine Cephas-Jones won't reprise her role." Don't be because I was really excited to see her in this and she was not good. Whether that was her performance or the horrendous music I can't say.

[Sutton Ross]

This was not a good show, and none of the cast stood out for me. I don't get it, but perhaps it will improve 100% before they do this. 

[JBroadway]

ClydeBarrow said: "Don't be"

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I saw the show for myself, and I thought she was good, so I'll go ahead and be disappointed. But you're fully entitled to your own opinion! 

 

@Kad, completely agree regarding regarding the weird elephant in the room that they created by ignoring his stature, and throwing in a single line about the size of his nose. Totally weird. That didn't ruin the show for me though. I actually thought the show really captured the sense of tenderness and heartbreak at the core of the story, even if they messed up mostly everything else about it. 

 

[Kad]

I didn't think any of the performances were the problem. Dinklage didn't sing particularly much and what he had was totally fine and clearly tailored to his ability.

[HogansHero]

I thought this was a good but not great show. I liked the songs well enough but clearly they were not taking a musical theatre approach. I was not bothered by Dinklage's singing. No he is not a singer but we have enough great singers who can't act that kvetching about an actor as good as Dinklage who can't really sing seems a bit much. And we shall see what becomes of the film.

[rg7759]

I liked it. The parts that worked were the Cinematic elements. Effects. But poor grace McLean.I think it's wise to not make a non musical film of this basic story. I think they're choosing the reasoning that if it didn't work on stage it must work on film. Surprising definitely, does this mean the James mcavoy version was even worse?

[JBroadway]

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Kelvin-Harrison-Jr-Joins-Peter-Dinklage-Led-CYRANO-Musical-Film-Adaptation-20200921

Kelvin Harrison Jr. announced to play Christian. Not sure who Brian Tyree Henry is supposed to be playing then.

Kind of odd (maybe a bit racist?) that BroadwayWorld published this press release and chose to show a photo of Dinklage rather than Harrison Jr, even though the whole point of the article was to announce Harrison's casting. Whatever gets them the most ad revenue I guess...

In other news, I still think it's so bizarre that this project is happening. What a weird turn of events. 

[Dollypop]

Wishing they chose to film the Christopher Plummer musical version. Yes, it got trashed but I found it to marvelous and it had some very good music in it. I particularly like "You Have Made Me Love You"

[jpbran]

JBroadway said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Kelvin-Harrison-Jr-Joins-Peter-Dinklage-Led-CYRANO-Musical-Film-Adaptation-20200921

Kelvin Harrison Jr. announced to play Christian. Not sure who Brian Tyree Henry is supposed to be playing then.

Kind of odd (maybe a bit racist?) that BroadwayWorld published this press release and chose to show a photo of Dinklage rather than Harrison Jr, even though the whole point of the article was to announce Harrison's casting. Whatever gets them the most ad revenue I guess...

In other news, I still think it's so bizarre that this project is happening. What a weird turn of events."

It’s not racist.  It’s the editor using the photo of the guy who was an award-winning lead on one of the most popular TV shows worldwide. Ever. Dinklage is gonna get clicks and get butts in seats; not much else about this project will. 

[JBroadway]

Labeling it "Racist" is debatable, I'll admit, and my comment had more to do with the iffy optics of it than the intention behind it (which, as you stated, is obviously because Dinklage is a bigger star). Which is why I put it in parentheses with a question mark. 

But racist or not, it's disrespectful to Harrison Jr. If it was an article about the film in general, or about several additional cast members, then it might make more sense. I'm fully aware that they did it for financial reasons - that doesn't mean it isn't disrespectful.