The Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park is currently remounting Jason O’Connell and Brenda Withers’ newest adaptation of the play “Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in the round and set in America rather than France.
While staged as a full on production in 2009, and directed by Darko Trenjak, it has been pared down to a rather speedy ninety minutes and with a cast of five, some who play multiple characters. It is directed with a deft hand by Annie Tippe with humor and tragedy that at plays end one almost felt for Cyrano who was blinded by self-depreciation and loathing.
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| Cailen Fu as Roxane and Michael Braun as Cyrano |
Michael Braun is the love sick and hopeless romantic, Cyrano, consummate poet with a sensitively perched extra- long nose (on an otherwise handsome and strong face). He is a swashbuckling swordsman (he calls it panache), stage actor and army captain who longs for his love, the beautiful Roxane (Cailen Fu) who is in love with a shy young soldier in his brigade, Christian (Max Monnig).
Others in the cast playing the multiple characters include Maria Elena Ramirez as Le Bret and others, and Philip Taratula as Count Deguiche and others. Both lend some comedy as a warm up for what’s to come later. Yours truly found this madcap introduction to the secondary characters rather confusing and difficult to keep up with.
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| Max Monnig as Christian and Cailen Fu as Roxane |
We meet up with the characters backstage at the playhouse where Cyrano is preparing to perform. There he changes into the swashbuckling swordsman with a feathered cap and an application of white paint to symbolize and exaggerate the size of his nose while quietly romanticizing his desire for Roxane.
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| Cailen Fu as Roxane, Michael Braun as Cyrano, and Max Monnig as Christian |
Cyrano is so typical of someone who is thus consumed with a personal physical flaw that he can’t see the good in himself. Unfortunately, he the man, who was head over heels in love with the beautiful Roxane doesn’t feel deserving of reciprocal love, becomes a voice for the man who confesses his love for her and whose love she returns.
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| Michael Braun as Cyrano and Cailen Fu as Roxane |
Adoring her from afar and protecting her lover with their secret, the mystery of the origin of the love letters becomes a lifelong preoccupation for Cyrano while his life’s desire fades into the background and both Roxane and Cyrano grow old as platonic rather than intimate lovers.
He continues to visit her for fifteen years in the Convent. As the two grow older together, tenderness between them develops and while nothing is ever said, beneath the surface their true love is felt up to his dying days.
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| Michael Braun as Cyrano and Cailen Fu as Roxane |
The real life Cyrano was also a popular poet and sci-fiction writer. Rostand’s model for the beautiful Roxane was based on the life of De Bergerac’s cousin who lived with his aunt, Catherine de Bergerac at the Covenant of the Daughter of the Cross. Both Braun and Fu are excellent in their interpretation of both characters. Fu is beautiful, soft, sincere and completely honest and witty in her feelings and that comes through throughout. Her change of heart comes when she realizes that looks are only on the outside trappings. We see her mature from a girl to a woman when she understands that what really counts is goodness on the inside.
Braun is handsome, nose et.al. and never looses sight of who he is either as poet, soldier, swordsman or antagonist to his enemies. Remaining cast members fill their roles convincingly.
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| Max Monnig as Christian and Michael Braun |
Credit Afsoon Pajoufar the minimal set design consisting of a series of foot stools moved about, some real and plastic food, mirrors, a set of stairs acting as an acting platform or balcony. Haydee Zelideth for the array of easily transformed costumes, Christopher Bowser for the atmospheric lighting and Brandon Wolcott for the sound design.
As I mentioned above, the show clocked in at about 90 fast paces minutes. It felt much longer to me. You be the judge.
Have fun and enjoy.
See you at the theatre.
When: Runs through Aug. 16. 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays
Where: Old Globe Theatre’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego
Tickets: $44 and up
Photo: Rich Soublet II
Phone: 619-234-5623
Online: theoldglobe.org
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