Cyrano

Roxanne, Cyrano,Christian

The Arden Theatre Company, located at 4 N. 2nd Street in Old City, is presenting Cyrano on the F. Otto Haas Stage through April 14, 2012. This French classic, written by Edmond Rostand, was collaboratively adapted by Director Aaron Posner and Michael Hollinger who translated it into English.  Hollinger, a prolific playwright and multiple Barrymore Award winner in his own right, produced a spectacular translation.  Cyrano’s words do indeed wax poetic and the dialogue is so striking, one can readily forget that the play is not being performed in its original language.  Of the cast of nine, only Keith Randolph Smith, who portrays a narrator of sorts and Eric Hissom who portrays Cyrano perform only one role. Some actors, such as Scott Greer, have an opportunity to excel in as many as six roles, both male and female ones.  Doug Hara finds himself changing characters five times, one of which is  a female as well. Even Luigi Sottile, Roxanne’s love interest, has four other roles to play in addition to Christian, the young man smitten with Roxanne.   Fight Director Dale Anthony Girard is responsible for the electrifying sword fights which occur on stage.  The parrying is realistic; the footwork is nimble and the men display the grace usually reserved for  a ballet.  This production is a sensory feast.  The ears soak up the exquisite language and the sounds of fighting; the eyes clutch onto the colorful costumes and the enticing wrought iron set which serves multiple purposes for the characters on the stage; the nose can almost grasp the stench of war; the entire body can feel a chill in the air as leaves fall from the top of the theater onto the stage to indicate the change of seasons and passage of time.  Don’t miss an opportunity to see what is sure to be a smashing success. For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122 or visit online at ardentheatre.org