Cyrano de Bergerac @ The Playhouse Theatre
Ten Second Review: Come for the McAvoy stay for the clever writing and well paced first half.
I’ve loved the story of Cyrano de Bergerac since I was a kid. It’s such an interesting idea that manages to refocus from its central character and narrative to something slightly more inquisitive of the human condition. This new iteration adds something new.
Gifted in strength, wit and charisma, captain Cyrano de Bergerac has it all...well maybe a touch too much. Feeling as though his huge nose holds him back from being loved, Cyrano agrees to help the girl he’s dreaming of, Roxanne, by protecting her beau, Christian, from being bullied in the army. He also agrees to help Christian by writing love letters to Roxanne. Will getting too close to the situation destroy his soul or free his writing?
Going into this, I must admit, I didn’t quite expect the modernised version that was put on. Set in 1640 but in modern costume and modern language, most of the play is set in rhyming poetry. Feeling fresh and vibrant the tone and writing are truly enjoyable and paired with the acting talents of the cast like Anita-Joy Uwajeh, Eben Figueiredo, Michelle Austin and the brilliant Nima Taleghani the script delivers dividends on its already clever writing.
It goes without saying that McAvoy is phenomenal here. This seems to have shocked critics fawning over his performance, but it is possible to star in high budget Hollywood blockbusters (irrespective of their quality) and remain a brilliant stage actor. There are moments throughout where he, along with the other cast members, have you holding your breath with the speed and skill involved in remembering, delivering and selling an immense poem with such style and grace. Specifically the first half is so gripping that when the intermission arrives, you half wish it would finish there.
Their are two elements that rather let the production down; one aesthetic (although it runs a little deeper) and one structural. It must be said that the pacing in the second half falters rather badly. The speed is a snail crawl and, while the writing remains engaging, a swift edit may have helped its overall effect.
The other key issue is that while McAvoy is incredible in the titular role, he ironically doesn’t look the part. The choice to not use the seeming gimmick of a prosthetic nose actually undercuts the play. It’s difficult to take seriously a McAvoy constantly berating his own ugliness.
Overall the play is quite enjoyable. Great cast, great performances and pretty fun writing fall prey to so-so pacing and a misstep in the costuming. I don’t think I’d force people to see it but for a regular theatre goer, this should feel fresh and interesting.
