Cyrano de Bergerac

The well-enunciated tones of The St. Charles Players provide clarity and excitement in stimulating radio theater style as they portray the story of Cyrano in rhyme and poetry. The production is full of life and exuberance--vendors hawking their wares as Cyrano comes on stage, voices of high-spirited children encouraging him while hecklers in the crowd boo and jeer. Male and female portrayals are easy to distinguish as Cyrano seeks the favor of his adored Roxanne. Minuet-style music provides breaks between scenes. This refreshing adaptation provides an excellent alternative to an age-old classic. G.D.W. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

L.A Theatre Works gives a briskly energetic performance of Rostand's bittersweet romance about the heroic but unlovely poet and swordsman Cyrano and his hopeless love for the beautiful Roxane. The cast handles Burgess's rhyming version adroitly, without making listeners uncomfortably aware of the verse structure--though this adaptation of Burgess's adaptation seems curtailed and a bit abrupt. There's some weakness in the minor roles, and Linklater's Cyrano lacks the refinement one expects from the poet. (It's hard to imagine Cyrano saying "gonna," as Linklater does.) But the main players convey the drama's emotions admirably, hold listeners' attention, and keep the piece lively. The program includes an informative conversation with a biographer of Rostand. W.M. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine