Robynn Rodriguez (Constance, Bellerose) came to our class today. She was very fun to talk with. She has time touring with other theatre companies and seems to keep her options more open then some of the other actors. She is well favored here in Ashland and has always been invited back, even on some of her year-long touring absences. I admire her for passion to explore theatre in a variety of environments and push herself beyond a need for safety and security.
After class Dad and I went back to our hotel room and took a much needed 3 hour nap. It felt good to have the afternoon off, especially with the excitement of Cyrano de Bergerac brewing in the air!
Cyrano de Bergerac is set in Paris France, 1640. Parisian theatre was very popular; they loved realism, spectacle, horse shows and melodramas.
The first production of Cyrano de Bergerac opened Dec. 28th 1897, with a cast of 70 to 80 actors. Playwright Edmond Rostand was just 29 years old. Men in France lived by a code established by their birth order: the 1st son inherited everything, the 2nd son went into the church, and the youngest sons went into the army. Their family would typically buy their promotions.
At the time there was a “code of duello.” Men wear weapons at all times and all men were trained in weaponry. They fought duels for almost any occasion: insults to family, clothing, politics, intelligence, etc. All duels were fought to the death.
Women sought the “Précieuse” (the precious ones) – a movement of women that demanded men with wit, intelligence, good manners, a talent in the arts and cleverness with language. In contrast, “Gascons” were men of empty boasting. They have pride, a gift for exaggeration, courage, grandeur of spirit and a love of the grand gesture.
The play has been translated and performed many times, and is responsible for introducing the word "panache" into the English language - which not only refers to Cyrano's white plume, but also to his flamboyant spirit.
Tonight we saw the understudy for Cyrano, but I could not imagine the role being played by anyone better. He stepped into a role bigger then Hamlet without a script and never broke character. He only faulted once, but he called for a line so seamlessly that I hardly noticed. Richard Howard is fabulous! In the last scene where Cyrano prepares himself for his death and recites the letter he wrote to Roxanne, I found myself in tears. I collected myself only for the curtain call, for which the entire audience rose to their feet. Richard Howard delivered the language so beautifully that I felt the emotional life of his character completely. I can only dream that someday someone will love me as much as Cyrano loved Roxanne.
This play was a perfect ending to my theatre experience this year in Ashland. Here’s to many more!
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