A Side Note
(literally!)
I recently saw "The Truth About Cats and Dogs" and was amused to see that this movie was quite "Cyrano-esque", with the roles being reversed as Janine Garafalo and Uma Thurman combine to form their own hero of romance.
This movie was fantastic, and I'd encourage you to see it.
Solid acting, a great script, and real chemistry make this a must see! Besides, you should watch this movie just to see Janine Garafalo smile. She could add light to a room with it. What a beautiful thing!
A review . . .
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Although Cory Coleman initially said he was transcribing the whole play, it never quite happened. I don't blame him, it was a huge task. There is someone who is typing out the entire play right now, but as always, I can't promise anything. And if there was an English version of the play in text format, trust me, I'd have it! So please, no emails asking for the play - it would be here if it existed!
Check this file out for the best scenes of the play!
Extracts from "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmond Rostand published in English in 1981 by Bantam Books.
Act I
"The Hall of the Hotel de Bourgogne in 1640. A sort of Tennis Court, arranged and decorated for Theatrical productions.
The Hall is a long rectangle; we see it diagonally, in such a way that one side of it forms the back scene, which begins at the First Entrance on the right and runs up to the Last Entrance on the Left, where it makes a right angle with the stage which is seen obliquely.
This stage is provided on either hand with benches placed along the wings. The curtain is formed by two lengths of Tapestry which can be drawn apart. Above a Harlequin cloak, the Royal Arms. Broad steps lead from the stage down to the floor of the hall. On either side of these steps, a place for the Musicians. A row of candles serve as footlights. Two tiers of Galleries along one side of the hall; the upper one divided into boxes.
There are no seats upon the floor, which is the actual stage of our theatre; but toward the back of the hall, on the right, a few benches are arranged; and underneath a stairway on the extreme right, which leads up to the galleries, and of which only the lower portion is visible, there is a sort of sideboard, decorated with little tapers, vases of flowers, bottles and glasses, plates of cake et cetera.
Farther along, toward the centre of our stage is the entrance to the hall; a great double door which opens only slightly to admit the audience. On one of the panels of this door, as also in other places about the hall, and in particular just over the sideboard, are playbills in red, upon which we may read the title "La Clorise".
As the curtain rises the hall is dimly lighted and still empty. The chandeliers are lowered to the floor, in the middle of the hall, ready for lighting."
Extract from "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmond Rostand, published in English in 1981 by Bantam Books.
(the except below is what inspired the famous "20 Nose Jokes" in the movie Roxanne)
Extract from Act I: The Hall of the Hotel de Bourgogne, 1640.
Vicomte de Valvert: Ah... your nose... hem! Your nose is rather large!
Cyrano (gravely): Rather.
Valvert (simpering): Oh well--
Cyrano (coolly): Is that all?
Valvert (turns away with a shrug): Well of course--
Cyrano: Ah no, young sir! You are too simple. Why, you might have said -- Oh a great many things! Mon dieu, why waste your opportunity? For example, thus: AGGRESSIVE: I, sir, if that nose were mine, I'd have it amputated - on the spot! FRIENDLY: How do you drink with such a nose? You ought to have a cup made specially. DESCRIPTIVE: 'Tis a rock - a crag - a cape - A cape? say rather a peninsula! INQUISITIVE: What is that receptacle - A razor-case or a portfolio? KINDLY: Ah, do you love the little birds so much that they come and sing to you, you give them this to perch on? INSOLENT: Sir, when you smoke, the neighbours must suppose your chimney is on fire. ENTERPRISING: What a sign for some perfumer! SIMPLE: When do they unveil the monument?
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