Big hats and noses mean big laughs

A period play with unrequited love, war, sword fights, swaggering men, a token drunk, a stupid villain and a beautiful woman. It’s not a premise that I’m usually keen on - so it was with great scepticism that I took my seat at the MTC’s Cyrnao de Bergerac - a late 19th century offering by Edmond Rostand (this production is adapted and translated by Andrew Upton). I cringed when the plumed hats, pompous language, men with lipstick, floppy boots and massive ball dresses appeared. But within 5 seconds of hearing David Wenham’s powerful voice boom from the back of the auditorium as he made his way to the stage, my pre-conceptions flew out the window and I was engrossed.

Directed by Simon Phillips, the play works with the idea that aesthetically beautiful people have a head start in the world. Cyrano de Bergerac (David Wenham) is a fine soldier, riveting poet and the most brilliant swordsman in France. He is generous, charming, respected and applauded, however has been cursed with a huge, grotesque nose. Cyrnao is deeply in love with his beautiful, intelligent, life long friend Roxane, but has never confessed his feelings - believing his monstrous appearance has left him fated to be alone.

Roxane has fallen for the handsome young soldier Christian- but he is not a man of words. Cyrano offers to help Christian win Roxane and together they create the ‘perfect’ man with Christian’s good looks and Cyrano’s magic words. For a while the guise works a charm, however it comes as no surprise that Christian eventually becomes unstuck and Cyrano’s inner beauty is obvious.

Playing Cyrano de Bergerac is tough gig, so it is lucky David Wenham was filling his shoes. With super long monologues, poetic verse and sword fight scenes, it’s a role that needs the skill of a seasoned character actor- and Wenham was fantastic. Asher Keddie captured Roxane’s unique mix of unapproachable beauty and honest passion for words, romance and people. Fresh from NIDA and in his debut with the MTC, David Lyons did a great job as Christian and certainly fit the bill. Carita Farrer offered some comic spice as Roxane’s trusty sidekick- almost like the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet. There were many great supporting parts and the cast did a fantastic job of the highly choreographed and complex fight scenes.

Designer Gabriela Tylesova’s set is fairly straightforward until the pastry house appears. Suddenly a brilliant red and white construction is revealed that is like something straight from Alice and Wonderland.

Despite not being a huge fan of plays of this style, I got a lot out of this production. Cyrano de Bergerac is beautifully written, very witty and it makes you think about what to value in life. And Wenham’s acting is a treat.

Melinda Oliver

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Cyrano de Bergerac

Company: MTC
Venue: The Playhouse, VAC
Dates: 23 February
to 2 April, 2005