Review: CYRANO DE BERGERAC at Noël Coward Theatre

The RSC production which opened this week at the Noël Coward theatre is directed by Simon Evans who, along with Lester, and the co-writer of this new version Debris Stevenson, have formed a triumvirate to spearhead the creative process. Thankfully, despite the frequent blurring of periods (first world war rifles appear alongside elaborate handled rapiers for example) the original's plot lines and story progression remain largely untouched — just language elements have been updated to reflect a more modern sensibility.

Cyrano (Adrian Lester) is an accomplished soldier of considerable renown. He is also a poet, but due to a larger than average nose (which for so long as he can remember has been mocked and ridiculed), he believes he is the butt of jokes and wholly unattractive to women. One in particular, Roxanne (Susannah Fielding) he has loved since he was a boy. She has never thought of him romantically, but while fending off the unwanted advances of a local aristocrat the Comte de Guiche (Scott Handy) she lays eyes on a handsome young lad from the country Christian de Neuvillette (Levi Brown) who has joined the militia and has fallen under Cyrano's command. The only thing keeping the potential young lovers apart, is her desire to be wooed with romantic language, and his lack of any. With war imminent, Cyrano swallows his pride and agrees to keep young Christian safe. He also woos Roxanne through letters and by other means on behalf of his young charge.

Years pass, war takes its toll and the truth finally reveals itself in this version of one of literature's great heroic comedies. The team have doubled down on the heartbreak of politesse in the face of a cautiously held but unrequited love, creating perhaps one of the most moving endings to a production of Cyrano ever staged. Those contributing noteworthy onstage assistance in the endeavour, include Philip Cumbus as Le Bret, Greer Dale-Foulkes as Abigail and Christian Patterson as Ragueneau, but in truth every member of the ensemble adds character and skill to the production which continues at Noël Coward Theatre until 5th September and plays 2 hours 45 mins including a 15 min interval.

Cyrano de Bergerac Tickets