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‘Cyrano’ blends
By John Berger
humor, tragedy
Special to the Star-BulletinEVEN kids too young to have experienced the pain of love lost and love denied will thoroughly enjoy Honolulu Theatre for Youth's production of "Cyrano." Walter Eccles plays Cyrano, the doomed romantic, with comic panache and poignancy. Cat Gonzaga and Herman Tesoro Jr. give Eccles excellent support.
Gonzaga is flighty and immature as Roxanne, a woman men fight and die for. Tesoro is Christian, the handsome object of Roxanne's affections, who admits women like to look at him but he doesn't know how to talk to them.
Gonzaga and Tesoro each portray other characters; the latter adding a great comic performance in a secondary role as the smarmy noble who wants to wed Roxanne.
Percussionist Amos Zollo adds an assortment of sound effects that serve to set the mood and cover for costume changes. A simple backdrop defines the performance area. The three cast members announce each change of setting.
HTY director Mark Lutwak keeps the story in its original 17th-century setting
"Cyrano," presented by Honolulu Theatre For Youth
Cyrano is a master swordsman, a romantic soul and a gifted poet cursed with an enormous nose. He loves Roxanne, and although they are friends, he doesn't tell her of his feelings, all the while promising her to watch over Christian.
Cyrano discovers Christian's handicap in speaking to women and begins coaching him in what to say. Cyrano also starts writing love letters to Roxanne in Christian's name.
Roxanne and Christian marry, thwarting the nobleman's desire. The nobleman retaliates by sending Christian -- with Cyrano's secret -- to certain doom in battle.
Fortunately the HTY production is not as depressing as the synopsis may make it sound. Bright costumes and energetic performances play to the lighter side almost throughout. The show opens with the cast members joining Zollo in a musical number for drums and bells. Audience members quickly becomes involved as Eccles/Cyrano addresses them directly, recounting insults people have made about his nose.
Gonzaga plays Roxanne to good comic effect as a stereotypical airhead. Tesoro interprets Christian at first as equal parts callow youth and tongue-tied suitor, but also is convincing as Christian becomes a mature gentleman.
Tony Pisculli (fight choreography) adds another element to the comic side of things. Cyrano is a super swordsman as well as a romantic soul and great poet, and Pisculli's blending of real-life fencing techniques and physical comedy made the fight scenes convincing and funny. The battles were a big hit with an audience of children Monday.
Eccles and Tesoro do great work with Pisculli's routines, whether they are fighting each other or fending off a horde of unseen enemies. One scene finds Cyrano defending a drunken friend (Tesoro in another role) from 100 enemies. Eccles and Tesoro play the scene perfectly.
Eccles is expressive and immediately engaging even though his face is masked. HTY veteran Tesoro again displays his skills as a comic actor. Casey Cameron's costuming adds to the impact of his performance; she does a fine job for the others as well.
"Cyrano" can be interpreted by adults as either extremely romantic or as a heartbreaking tragedy. Most pre-teens will lock into the comic side and find HTY's "Cyrano" an entertaining introduction to a classic story and a springboard for discussion.
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