Cyrano De Bergerac
Fri, 12 Aug 2005, 09:02 amWalter Plinge10 posts in thread
Cyrano De Bergerac
Fri, 12 Aug 2005, 09:02 amWhy is that the wonderful play Cyrano De Bergerac is not performed that often.
I think it is a great play.I saw the Sydeny Theatre Company production in 1999 but I haven't heard of any productions being done since then.
Why is this so?
I think it is a great play.I saw the Sydeny Theatre Company production in 1999 but I haven't heard of any productions being done since then.
Why is this so?
Walter PlingeFri, 12 Aug 2005, 09:02 am
Why is that the wonderful play Cyrano De Bergerac is not performed that often.
I think it is a great play.I saw the Sydeny Theatre Company production in 1999 but I haven't heard of any productions being done since then.
Why is this so?
I think it is a great play.I saw the Sydeny Theatre Company production in 1999 but I haven't heard of any productions being done since then.
Why is this so?
Dan BroderickFri, 12 Aug 2005, 10:57 am
Re: Cyrano De Bergerac
Was that the one starring David Wenham? I didn't get a chance to see it but I heard that it was hilarious.
Walter PlingeFri, 12 Aug 2005, 05:06 pm
Re: Cyrano De Bergerac
A couple of friends saw the Derek Jacobi production in the UK and cried their eyes out.
Thou dissembling reeling-ripe flirt-gill!
Thou dissembling reeling-ripe flirt-gill!
Bass GuyFri, 12 Aug 2005, 08:31 pm
Re: Cyrano De Bergerac
anonymous asked:
> Why is that the wonderful play Cyrano De Bergerac is not performed that often.
Assuming this is actually a question, one would posit the argument that it's cheaper to hire the DVD of "Roxanne". There's also the possibility that there are more laughs in the film and it's certainly less French.
El
> Why is that the wonderful play Cyrano De Bergerac is not performed that often.
Assuming this is actually a question, one would posit the argument that it's cheaper to hire the DVD of "Roxanne". There's also the possibility that there are more laughs in the film and it's certainly less French.
El
Walter PlingeTue, 16 Aug 2005, 10:59 am
Re: Cyrano De Bergerac
The 1999 Sydney Theatre Company production starred Jeremy Simms as Cyrano.
I bet that Derek Jacobi would have made a great Cyrano!
I bet that Derek Jacobi would have made a great Cyrano!
Walter PlingeWed, 17 Aug 2005, 07:29 am
Re: Cyrano De Bergerac
Dear All,
As a Fight Director, 'Cyrano' is a favourite given the amount of work there is to do, particularly the 'ballade' fight early on and the 'Fight with the 100'. Its one of those plays that every Fight Director hopes to get a crack at during his/her career, rather like the actor who yearns to do Hamlet or Lady Macbeth.
Aside from the 'Roxanne' film starring Steve Martin, try checking out the Jean-Paul Rappeneau version from 1991 starring Gerard Depardieu and Vincent Perez. Dealing with the subtitles is worth it for the performances, photography and of course, the fight scenes. These were choreographed by English Fight Director Bill Hobbs.
Harder to find is the 1950 film version starring Jose Ferrer which was an adaptation of his Tony Award-winning performance from a year or so earlier. Its a bit dated and of its style, but is still hugely entertaining. Watch for Cyrano disarming Valvert in the 'ballade' fight which involves flipping Valvert's sword high into the air and Cyrano catching it. During the stage run, the same choreography was used and Ferrer went through over 100 live performances without dropping it once. My mental Rolodex fails me as to who conceived the choreography, but I have a feeling it was Ferrer himself.
Rarer still is the Jacobi version that others have mentioned. This was staged at the RSC in 1984, and the video is essentially a reproduction of that. Sadly, I only have the 'ballade' fight on a compilation video (what a geek, eh?), and not the whole production. Fight choreography was by Malcolm Ranson, a regular at both the RSC and the National.
Incidentally, the MTC production earlier this year starring David Wenham was choreographed by my colleague Nigel Poulton who was also responsible for Bell Shakespeare's 'Wars of the Roses'.
Happy Swashbuckling!
Andy Fraser
Fight Director
As a Fight Director, 'Cyrano' is a favourite given the amount of work there is to do, particularly the 'ballade' fight early on and the 'Fight with the 100'. Its one of those plays that every Fight Director hopes to get a crack at during his/her career, rather like the actor who yearns to do Hamlet or Lady Macbeth.
Aside from the 'Roxanne' film starring Steve Martin, try checking out the Jean-Paul Rappeneau version from 1991 starring Gerard Depardieu and Vincent Perez. Dealing with the subtitles is worth it for the performances, photography and of course, the fight scenes. These were choreographed by English Fight Director Bill Hobbs.
Harder to find is the 1950 film version starring Jose Ferrer which was an adaptation of his Tony Award-winning performance from a year or so earlier. Its a bit dated and of its style, but is still hugely entertaining. Watch for Cyrano disarming Valvert in the 'ballade' fight which involves flipping Valvert's sword high into the air and Cyrano catching it. During the stage run, the same choreography was used and Ferrer went through over 100 live performances without dropping it once. My mental Rolodex fails me as to who conceived the choreography, but I have a feeling it was Ferrer himself.
Rarer still is the Jacobi version that others have mentioned. This was staged at the RSC in 1984, and the video is essentially a reproduction of that. Sadly, I only have the 'ballade' fight on a compilation video (what a geek, eh?), and not the whole production. Fight choreography was by Malcolm Ranson, a regular at both the RSC and the National.
Incidentally, the MTC production earlier this year starring David Wenham was choreographed by my colleague Nigel Poulton who was also responsible for Bell Shakespeare's 'Wars of the Roses'.
Happy Swashbuckling!
Andy Fraser
Fight Director
calMon, 22 Aug 2005, 01:44 pm
Re: Cyrano De Bergerac
Newcastle Repertory are actually doing Cyrano opening on the 7th of September.
Walter PlingeSat, 27 Aug 2005, 10:34 am
Re: Cyrano De Bergerac
As a matter of fact, you're right. Newcastle Repertory Club are performing Cyrano de Bergerac soon, and I'll be playing Christian. It's one of my all time favourite plays and when I heard it was on and the wonderful Barry Shephard was playing Cyrano, I contacted the director and found he needed a Christian, so I jumped at the opportunity! The directors name is Michael Blaxland and we have a great cast of about 20 people, with some great fight choreography by Kyle Rowling of the Sydney Stage Combat School. The set has just been painted and it has amazed me, which says something! It's on at the Newcastle Repertory Theatre, from September 7 to 24, on Wed, Fri and Sat nights 8.15pm with one matinee on Sun 18th at 2pm. The number to call is 49524958 if you're interested in catching it!
Walter PlingeThu, 8 Sept 2005, 01:19 pm
Re: Cyrano De Bergerac
Cyrano is now out on dvd.I bought it yesterday and you get two versions instead of one for under 35 dollars but I really want to see the version with Derek Jacobi.
Does anybody know if it is coming out on dvd?
Does anybody know if it is coming out on dvd?
Walter PlingeFri, 9 Sept 2005, 01:08 pm
Re: Cyrano De Bergerac
It was an RSC production, which means that it is probably on tape but won't be released to the general public.
For the last 20 odd years the RSC has been videotaping (very badly) all their productions. God knows how much has been lost to posterity! The filming usually involves a single camera, aimed CS, so any action SR and SL is lost. I saw the 2000 Richard II vid and the first five minutes was spent listening to the dialogue while looking at an empty stage.
The vids are available at the Shakespeare Library, if you happen to be in Stratford-upon-Avon. You can book and view them at the library for no cost. I've seen a few over the years - the Barbican Macbeth with Jacobi was appalling. The camera so far from the stage you couldn't work out who was who! The recent HenryIV was very good - multiple cameras and a couple of different angles.
The David Troughton Richard III was also very good.
Thou rank plume-plucked hugger-mugger!
For the last 20 odd years the RSC has been videotaping (very badly) all their productions. God knows how much has been lost to posterity! The filming usually involves a single camera, aimed CS, so any action SR and SL is lost. I saw the 2000 Richard II vid and the first five minutes was spent listening to the dialogue while looking at an empty stage.
The vids are available at the Shakespeare Library, if you happen to be in Stratford-upon-Avon. You can book and view them at the library for no cost. I've seen a few over the years - the Barbican Macbeth with Jacobi was appalling. The camera so far from the stage you couldn't work out who was who! The recent HenryIV was very good - multiple cameras and a couple of different angles.
The David Troughton Richard III was also very good.
Thou rank plume-plucked hugger-mugger!