“If I wasn’t born in this body, if I’d been born into this ‘perfect’ other body, only then might I be the love interest for this brilliant person”. Virginia Gay captures the stubborn presumptions and concerns that Cyrano holds in the original, and gives Cyrano in this story another way to have equally valid qualms. In this production directed by Clare Watson, Cyrano becomes a girl, and that's not the only thing that makes this show distinctive.
This Cyrano takes place in a modern-day rehearsal space. As three unnamed minor characters sort out the story, the characters mentioned make their entrance and begin their journeys. Cyrano is a knowledgeable, intelligent, strong and amusing girl. She falls in love with Roxanne, who is just as smart as she is. But in Cyrano's eyes, Roxanne is much more beautiful and sparkling than she is. Determined that Roxanne doesn't like girls, and a bit self-conscious about her big nose, Cyrano doesn't dare to tell Roxanne about her feelings. That's when Yan shows up. Tall and handsome, he seems to have the most perfect male body, and Roxanne is instantly attracted to him. She expects Yan to speak with thought and tenderness, but he can only speak simple words in every interaction with her. However, one day the situation changes completely. Yan seems to fulfill Roxanne's expectations easily, but what Roxanne doesn't know is that the words don't come from him, but from Cyrano, who hides behind him.
The stage for this play (Amanda Stoodley) looks like a rehearsal room, with wooden floors taped with spikes. On the stage, there is only a staircase that is used as a set for the balcony scene, three boxes with numbers one, two, and three written on them, a mirror, and a piano. The bricks on the wall at the back of the stage also fit the vibe of the play. The lighting (Andy Purves) is natural for most parts, with occasional changes to the mood following the scenes, such as the colourful lights during Yan's entrance; and the dark blue light during the balcony scene, with only a spotlight shining on Roxanne. Interestingly, Cyrano and Yan's outfits (Amanda Stoodley) are very similar. They both wear white vests and necklaces and even have nearly identical hairstyles.
The production invites the audience into the space in a very natural way. Not only does it communicate directly with the audience during the performance, but it even brings the audience into the environment before the play begins. Before the opening of the play, the actors speak directly to the audience and give each of them a different poem. Towards the end of the play, all the audience members take part in the party, wearing party hats and throwing down ribbons with the characters together.
Gay's Cyrano not only has the character traits that the role has traditionally possessed, but she always looks at Roxanne with an ineffable tenderness. It is very easy for the audience to follow her moods. Jessica Whitehurst's Roxanne is intelligent and enthusiastic, with a joyful energy. It makes perfect sense why Cyrano and Yan would fall in love with her. Joseph Evans plays Yan with just the right amount of simplicity of thought without being irritating, the audience is always amused by his seemingly unintentional humour. The three minor characters (Tessa Wong, David Tarkenter, and Tanvi Virmani) also have their personalities, which suitably harmonise the atmosphere and move the plot forward. The wit and simplicity Virmani holds is a particular highlight.
Although the conflicts and twists can be slightly abrupt at times due to the omission of many other characters and plot points, for the most part, the characters' dialogue is natural, with a touch of humour that comes along with it. Instead of missing each other and regretting their decisions for the rest of their lives, in this version of Cyrano, they have a chance to fix their mistakes. Because it is the regret in the original that keeps the audience reminiscing, it's hard to avoid this play being a little less poignant. However, it brings joy and gratification that the original does not hold. Whether or not it is watched over the Christmas season, this production will leave people with a very lovely evening.
Cyrano runs at Park Theatre until 11th January 2025.
★★★★☆ (4*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Mihaela Bodlovic
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