Swordsman, Philosopher, Poet, Raconteur; Cyrano de Bergerac, expertly portrayed by Harry (A), is all of these things, but none of them makes him happy.
What he desires above all is the love of the beautiful Roxane, played by the excellent Clemmie (J).
But his problem is as plain as the nose on his face. Salvation of a kind arrives in the form of the handsome yet tongue-tied Christian de Neuvillette, skilfully played by Ben (E); might not Cyrano’s eloquence and Christian’s beauty together win Roxane?
Yet duelling foes, powerful rivals and a war against Spain all put the hero to the test in a comedic retelling of Edmond Rostand’s original play.
Little do people know, but the play was based on the life of an actual person. The real Cyrano de Bergerac was indeed a novelist, playwright and duellist in the 17th century, like the Bergerac seen on stage today.
However, even though the play of 1897 is based on the real Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac, it is not much more than invention and myth.
With a cast of 32 pupils the play was funny, carefree, touching and emotive all at once, thrilling audiences in Greeker over three nights of romance, wordplay and duelling Frenchmen, closing the Drama calendar for the academic year.
Chosen for the way that it treats the audience, Cyrano de Bergerac starts off humorously, imploring one to fall in love with the characters and become champions for both Cyrano and Christian, before settling into an unease when the Cadets are called off to War.
The production showed that everyone can be loved regardless of how they see themselves and that usually we are our own worst enemies when it comes to love.
