Theatr na n'Og |
| Theatr Na Nog and Theatr Bryncheniog- Ctyrano , Torch Theatre, Milford Haven , December 18, 2008 |
Every once in a while a film, a painting, a song will stop you in your tracks with its sheer brilliance.A stunning new production of Cyrano by two relatively unknown Welsh companies serves up the theatrical example. The classic story has been presented in many formats, but none with outshine the simple pleasure offered by Kieiron Self's reworking of the story. Maybe because he's an accomplished comic actor, familiar to most people as Roger the Dentist in My Family, he is able to extract every ounce of humour, but this is no mere comedy, while the fun parts are very funny, the tragedy is heartbreaking. Self, too, was able to pick up on modern themes that are even more relevant to today's audience, obsessed as we are with appearance. He also demonstrates the classic story of unrequited love from the beautiful Roxanne's point of view, which the original misses. Cyrano is almost a superhero character, popular with men for his wit and bravery and with women for his intelligence and romance, but Cyrano's real Achilles' heel isn't his lack of looks, but his assumption that Roxanne is too shallow to love the real him, and that proves to be his downfall. But the finest writing will fail if the actors aren't up to the challenge - but luckily for the small, but highly-appreciative audience each and every actor proved the equal of the script. They all acted their socks off, but it was Rob Lane's Cyrano that was the powerhouse of the production who left hardened adults in tears at the character's tender dénouement. Equally touching was Eleanor Howell's Roxanne while Phylip Harries was almost too funny. Best reworked classic this year? Cyrano wins by a nose! |
Reviewed by: Fiona Phillips |
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