In the late 19th century, when Edmond Rostand penned "Cyrano de Bergerac," France was looking back with longing to a golden age it felt was lost. The 1600s had been a time of genteel ladies and loyal musketeers who could wield a sword and poetic words with equal panache.
That romantic era produces Cyrano, a high-profile, swashbuckling soldier and poet who fears no man "? and indeed takes on a hundred, by his account. He is a musician and playwright as well, whose friends adore him. He also possesses a nose so incredibly large, it provokes whispers and giggles.
CAST AND CREW
Robert McGill directs this enormous costume extravaganza, and his Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park cast certainly delivers a worthy esprit de corps, even though the acting levels as well as the costume designs are somewhat uneven.
Still, there is enough fancy swordplay (nicely staged by Matthew Ellis) and rowdy crowds to keep it moving well. A real cannon even finds its way onto the small stage for a big battle scene.
Versatile Doug Brown is fascinating to watch as Cyrano, ranging from Napoleonic clowning in some scenes, to a heartbreaking turn when he lets Cyrano's crowd-pleasing defenses down. Sara Craig is a charming knockout as Roxane, investing the role with a believable and tragic romantic earnestness.
Hal Kohlman is appropriately sleazy, and Daniel Gilbert delights. Other standouts include:
" David Mays,
" Bubba" Keltch and
" Wil Rogers.
This represents a nice change of programming for OSP.
"?Linda McDonald
