Role(s) – Christian
Company/School – New Zenith Theatre
Date(s) – 2002/10
Director – Ed Wierzbicki
Writer – Adapted by Jo Roets from the play by Edmond Rostand
Photo(s) – N/A
Review(s) – N/A
New Zenith Theatre to Present “Cyrano”
(Waterbury, CT – Sept. 19, 2002) – The New Zenith Theatre for Young Audiences at Naugatuck Valley Community College will open its 2002-2003 season with Cyrano, one of the greatest “crush” stories of all time.
Performances are Oct 10, 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., in the Playbox Theatre. In addition, morning performances for student groups are also available by special arrangement on Oct. 11, 17 and 18 at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. A limited number of tickets for school groups are being made available for free.
Adapted by Jo Roets from the play by Edmond Rostand, the production relates the story of Cyrano, the gallant soldier with a brilliant wit who falls in love with Roxanne. But he won’t do a thing about it, because he believes his nose is too big! Enter Christian, a dashing new recruit in Cyrano’s regiment for whom Roxanne falls. The result is one of the most unique rivalries in all of literature.
This new adaptation of Cyrano comes to Waterbury directly from Blauw Vier, the famous youth theater of Belgium. This witty and poignant story of the poet/swashbuckler offers relevant lessons about self worth, inner confidence and the power of brains and language over beauty and brawn. Highly recommended for grades 5 through 8, Cyrano appeals to older groups as well.
Featured in the production are New Zenith company members Lissa Romaine and Doug Sobon, both of Naugatuck, Gary Ploski and Mike Manna of Waterbury, and Joe Grosso of Sandy Hook. The production is directed by Ed Wierzbicki, artistic director and faculty member at NVCC.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children and teenagers. For box office information and ticket reservations, call (203) 575-8193. To make group arrangements for one of the morning performances, call (203) 575-8038.
Established in 1999 as part of the college’s Fine Arts division, the New Zenith Theatre brings together theater professionals and actors from the college and Greater Waterbury to stage children’s literature for school audiences and the community.
Production experience
What an absolutely enjoyable show. The cast was made up of a group of friends that were very familiar with each other on stage and off. With this in hand the show was an utter success. No music or sound effect was canned. On stage were coconuts, swords, and a variety of other objects used to create the live experience.
Two memories stand out from this show. One involved a knife and a finger the other involved two swords and the air. Mike was preparing food on stage while Joe was strumming along on his guitar. Doug, Lissa, and I each had something to do while we waited for the queue. At some point Mike walked off stage and then disappeared. About 5 minutes passed, with everyone on stage except for Mike, before Mike returned. After the show we learned that Mike had sliced his finger with one of the real knives. He rushed off stage to get a band aide and to wrap the cut.
The other wonderfully Uh oh! moment was with the blade of a sword. While Cyrano, Doug, was fighting off over a dozen men I created the sound effects with two rapiers. Clang, clang, slice, slice, clang,clang,clang, slice, clang… My eyes immediately looked at the hilt… The blade was gone. I looked at Joe. I looked at the table, saw another rapier, grabbed it… clang, clang, clang, slice, clang! The fight ended. I put the rapiers down and sat on the stool. Then to Joe asking with my eyes “Where’d it go?!” His silent expressive response “What happened to the blade?”
Where’d the blade go? A – It snapped off. B – It flew straight up and came straight down. C – The curtains are our friends. Apparently it hit the curtain when it flew off and slid down until it rested on a pile of curtains stage left… In Joe’s general direction.
What a show it was. I don’t know if I’ve worked with a cast that was that comfortable together since then. Too bad it never toured as Ed had hoped.