Cyrano de Bergerac review – Adrian Lester brings sublime soul to roistering romance

Swan theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon The giant-hootered lover ventriloquising his passion for Roxane through a physically dashing rival is the standout star of this warm and likable revivalJamie Lloyd’s rap-battling version of Edmond Rostand’s romance showed us just what a modern-day adaptation could be with its sleekly devastating originality. Simon Evans and Debris Stevenson do not try to emulate the radical genius of that show in their adaptation. The genius here is in honouring the old rather than radical reinvention.Their modern-language script distils the spirit of Rostand’s drama, set in the French golden age, albeit in the midst of war. The heart and poetry is all here, and the sincerity too, which sometimes spills into schmaltz (for example, a silently smiling child Cyrano roams through the production to tug at our heart-strings). But it is all underpinned with emotional authenticity and neat, quipping wit. Continue reading...

Comments

Culture

Paul Mescal is better than ever in The History of Sound – but I wanted more

Metro

Comments

Similar News

Adrian Lester revels in swordplay and wordplay as Cyrano de Bergerac

Actor Acrian Lester talks of overcoming insecurity in Cyrano de Bergerac

Culture

Paul Mescal is better than ever in The History of Sound – but I wanted more

Brandy blames early Chicago exit on ‘dehydration’ after she left Monica to finish concert solo

Chris Robshaw becomes third contestant to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing

Vernon Kay, Ant and Dec and Stephen Fry win at Variety Club Showbusiness Awards

Sharon Osbourne shares heartbreaking loss weeks after husband Ozzy’s death

Strictly 2025 confirms third star eliminated after ‘emotional’ apology to partner

Britain’s Got Talent star, 17, arrested and fined £1,000 for busking

Sam Rivers, bassist and founding member of Limp Bizkit, dies aged 48

Iconic actress exposes Martin Scorsese’s ‘volcano-like’ anger during marriage

Hollywood shows out for ‘No Kings’ protests: Jamie Lee Curtis and Ben Stiller among celebrities speaking out

‘Larsen C’ Review: Grand, Dark and Inhumanly Cold

Sabrina Carpenter fans react after singer ‘doubled down’ on dropping F-word during SNL performance

Harry Potter star turns down Celebrity Traitors after ‘never watching’ show

Loose Women star pulled from BBC radio show after ‘bullying claims’

Louvre Closed After Thieves Steal ‘Priceless’ Jewels in Brazen Daylight Robbery

Alexander Skarsgård hailed as ‘icon’ after sporting backless halterneck on red carpet

BBC airs ‘clanger’ of a mistake during reporting of Lady Annabel Goldsmith’s death

Sci-fi series with near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score launches for free

Why the numbers 6-7 are driving math teachers up the wall

Once revoked for 'indecency,' the British Library reinstates Oscar Wilde's library card

Josh O’Connor: ‘Filming period romance with Paul Mescal deepened our relationship’

Strictly fans claim star was ‘undermarked’ despite slipping during performance

Sunday Puzzle: Anagrams from a hotel room

Book Review: ‘Shattered Dreams, Infinite Hope,’ by Brandon M. Terry

Book Review: ‘Every Day Is Sunday,’ by Ken Belson

Three Women in Alaska Collaborate on an Exhibit About Climate Change

Pink Floyd star David Gilmour says Roger Waters reunion is impossible

Sam Rivers death: Limp Bizkit bassist dies, aged 48

Strictly star hits back at claims he ‘shouldn’t be allowed’ to compete

Limp Bizkit bassist dies aged 48, band says

The Celebrity Traitors cast are closer to each other than you might think

Michael J Fox says co-star ‘created friction’ on set of Back to the Future

‘Netflix thriller fans are furious I haven’t won an award – but I’m relieved’

Limp Bizkit star Sam Rivers dies aged 48 as band pays tribute to ‘true legend’

I was a busker living in my van – now I’m selling out the Royal Albert Hall

‘People aren’t ready for it’: How Paddington the Musical took the world’s favourite bear and put him on stage

Cameron Crowe on music, movies and the tragedy that shaped him: ‘I thought writing about it would cause too much pain’

‘Am I going to heaven, chat?’: SNL’s Trump stops by teen podcast to ramble about No Kings, war and George Santos

The Traitors and Celebrity Traitors: a blagger's guide to the BBC TV show everyone's watching

A thrilling tale of skulduggery and spies

Limp Bizkit bassist Sam Rivers dies aged 48

The 15 most terrifying horror films set at Halloween and where to watch them

'You can't fake being a rock star': Springsteen biopic explores his inner demons and childhood trauma

Why I fell in love with a book called I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki

Will giving up his titles really make much difference for Andrew?

Grand Theft Auto made him a legend. His latest game was a disaster

Mystery deepens after missing schoolgirl found dead in pop star D4vd's Tesla

Mick Jagger and Janet Jackson lead guests at London’s answer to the Met Gala

Strictly Come Dancing’s Ellie Goldstein is bringing the joy we all need right now

Actor Alexander Skarsgard says Pillion script ‘stood out’ among others

ITV star confirms exit after 36 years as part of huge daytime shake-up

You can now binge all 6 episodes of Dutch thriller that ‘keeps you guessing’ for free

Comedy and chemistry come naturally to Nobody Wants This's Justine Lupe

Strictly 2025 leaderboard: Scores from week four of BBC series

Paul Mescal says admiration for Josh O’Connor ‘extended tenfold’ on new film

Strictly’s Katya Jones fires back at judge to defend Lewis Cope against ‘harsh’ comments

Strictly’s Claudia Winkleman and Dave Arch recreate Coldplay kiss-cam moment

John Cusack says Trump should ‘go to hell!’ at ‘No Kings’ protest in Chicago

Dianne Buswell supported by Strictly Come Dancing fans after debunking health speculation

Kylie Jenner says she’s not ‘Adele or anything’ as she launches music career