“Cyrano” reviewed by Carol Moore

Highly  Recommended **** BoHo Theatre has put together an updated but still thoroughly enjoyable production of “Cyrano”.  It’s a more modern Cyrano but he’s still the anti-hero with the humongous schnoz.  “Cyrano” is still a swashbuckling adventure story but it’s also got enough tongue-in-cheek humor and sight gags to keep everyone entertained.  4 Spotlights

Cyrano (Michael B. Woods) is rather a legend in his own time, not because he was a master of language and wit, which he was; and not because he was a master swordsman, which he was; but because of the size of his nose.

Cyrano, who belongs to the Gascony Cadets, is usually pretty good-natured with one exception.  Woe to the unwary knave who makes a snarky remark about noses, lest Cyrano flay him with words or vanquish him with swordplay.  When Christian (Zack Livingston), a new recruit, persists in ‘nose’ remarks, his mates are ready for the show.

After he runs through all the typical ‘nose’ jokes, Cyrano starts the story of how he took on 100 attackers in one night, prompting his buds to pass out the popcorn and start counting.  By the way, I think this might have been the best onstage sword fight I’ve ever seen.  Kudos to Fight Choreographer Jon Beal, who figured out how to make seven fighters look like a hundred.

Cyrano secretly loved his cousin, Roxanne (Vahishta Vafadari), a briskly competent young woman, but was positive she could never love him because of his nose.  Roxanne was being courted by the Count de Guiche (Kristin Hammargren), but was infatuated with Christian.  Her nurse, Desiree (Eleanor Katz) didn’t have a chance of keeping her away from her love.  Since Roxanne had told Cyrano about Christian, he restrained himself from killing the young man over the nose insults.

Learning that the tongue-tied Christian loved Roxanne, Cyrano decided to help him woo her with intellect and wit.  De Guiche was infuriated when he learned that Roxanne had chosen Christian over his distinguished self, so he sent the Gascony Cadets off to the war.  Cyrano promised Roxanne he’d keep Christian safe, and that he’d write every day.  He ended up sending her so many love letters in Christian’s name, that she showed up at the front.

Woods had the swordplay and the nose, but I thought his ’puppy-dog’ eyes added poignancy to his portrayal.  His compatriots are Le Bret (Stephen Peebles), the baker Ragueneau (Matty Robinson), De Valvert (Christina Gorman) and Ligniere (Henry Greenberg).  During the swordfight, everyone in the cast – except Roxanne – put on a mask and joined in the fight.

The costumes were an interesting mix of the old and the new – wide hats musketeer-style hats with extravagant feather plumes and leather jackets – exactly right for swashbuckling!

BoHo Theatre’s production of “Cyrano” runs through April 15^th at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago.

Performances are as follows:

Thursday  8 p.m.

Friday  8 p.m.

Saturday  8 p.m.

Sunday  2 p.m.

Parking is available for a fee in Theater Wit’s lot behind Kubo restaurant across the street.  Valet parking is also available on weekends.

Running time is 2 hours, 20 minutes, with an intermission. . Tickets are $30.  FYI (773) 975-8150 or www.bohotheatre.com.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Cyrano”