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Cyrano: Translated
Written and Directed by Lara Filip-Tibble
Produced by Ouroboros Theatre Company
At the Theatre Building Chicago
1225 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-327-5252, tickets $20
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 2:30 & 7:30 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 25 minutes with intermission
Through August 3, 2008
Intelligent, dramatic work about three extraordinary writers unfolds as an artistic gem.
Kudos to the new Ouroboros Theatre Company and writer/director Lara Filip-Tibble for mounting the ambitious, articulate and delightfully dense World Premiere “Cyrano: Translated.” This is a gem of a show that needs an audience to appreciate the brilliance of this totally original work based on the lives of three writers. “Cyrano: Translated” deals with three stories---the historical Savinien de Cyrano (Jonathan French), circa 1650—Edmond Rostand (Scott J. Sumerak), circa 1897, the creator of the original play about Cyrano and Brian Hooker (Michael Sherwin), circa 1922, the American translator of Cyrano from the French into English. “Cyrano: Translated” tells the three stories, each intertwined in an elegant and moving exploration of the origins and inspirations of writing on the authors and their families. Audiences have long been fascinated with the tribulations of artists as they create their art. This play deftly examines the three artists as each obsess over their art. This play attempts to answer these questions: What does it take to make your mark as an artist? Is the sacrifice worth the rewards? When does art stop being the possession of the artist and public ownership take over?
With ample period-perfect costumes (by John Gion) on Charlie Gaidica’s three-part set, “Cryano: Translated” moves swiftly between the 1650’s, 1897 and 1922 as Savinien de Cyrano, Edmund Rostand and Brian Hooker each struggle to tell Cryano’s story. Playwright Lara Filip-Tibble began to wonder…“What would Cyrano think of Rostand’s portrayal of him? I started thinking about the ways in which we believe we ‘own’ our lives and ultimately do not. How would I feel if someone wrote my ‘life’ story several hundreds of years from now?” Add the fact that Brian Hooker’s translation of Rostand’s work presented their own challenges and we begin to realize that we don’t have much control over our legacy. History, translation, interpretation by actors & directors, critics, the government and the media all blend to create our legacy. Filip-Tibble’s smart and exquisitely written drama nicely conveys the dilemmas in the creative process of story telling and its effects on the creators. This is a thinking person’s play—flush with ideas and concepts about the process of artistic endeavors. The three stories flow into a splendid whole. Find out what “The Cyrano Factor”is all about?
The stellar cast is anchored by Scott J. Sumerak as Edmond Rostand. Jonathan French is terrific as Savinein de Cyrano. Ron Keaton is wonderful as the actors playing Cyrano. Michael Sherwin offers a worthy performance as Brian Hooker. This show has several excellent supporting performances by Courtney Boxwell, Sara Stern, Alex Dorsey and Erin Ordway. Maura Kidwell, as Doris Cooper-Hooker, deftly lands several funny lines as the underappreciated wife of Hooker. The entire cast performed with excellent articulation and an acute understanding of the material. They lead us through the life journey of the three writers astutely. You’d be hard pressed to see a finer ensemble work as intelligently staged and acted as “Cyrano: Translated.” This new Equity company demonstrates a keen sense of the theatrical. This play is a summer treat.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2008
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