Cyrano de Bergerac

The scene was set for a starry starry opening night when into the audience strolled Robert Redford, accompanying Cate Blanchett, in a break from  filming their movie Truth,  that is being shot in Sydney.

Sitting on the other side of Cate was, of course, her husband/ director/ adaptor Andrew Upton.

Any distraction was soon swept away by Upton’s production which blissfully resisted the temptation to update the period in which the play is set – allowing the text and performance to shine.

Richard Roxburgh played the “immaculately groomed on the inside” role of Cyrano with great charm and panache. He describes himself as looking like  “a circus act stuffed with poetry”.

Certainly his disfigured snout did not disappoint. Neither did the swashbuckling fencing scenes which made him sweat profusely.

But the ugliest thing about Cyrano – as the text said - was his self-pity. In love with his childhood friend Roxane (Eyrn Jean Novill) he is heart broken when she arranges a secret rendezvous only  to  express her desire for the much handsomer  soldier Christian (Chris Ryan).

Christian knows  that because Roxane can read he is sunk, because women run as soon as he opens his mouth.

So (as anyone familiar with Steve Martin’s movie Roxane will know) Cyrano hatches a plan to ghost write Christian’s love letters.

The young attractive couple’s sweet appearance is a gorgeous foil for the frustrated Cyrano.

Many minor characters also shine. Julia Zemiro was sumptuous as Roxane’s chaperone and Aaron Tsindos very tasty as the cook.

The set was sparse but effective. The walls were stripped back – with a rotating set piece in the centre that doubled as a stage proscenium and building top.

The original text has five acts and Upton’s adaption lasts over three hours with interval.

But no one in the audience grew twitchy. They were hanging off every word swept along by a sublime night of comedy and romantic folly.

David Spicer

Images: Eryn Jean Norvill, and Josh McConville & Julia Zemiro and Richard Roxburgh in Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Cyrano de Bergerac © Brett Boardman 2014.