Jan 1

Jan 1 Cyrano Never Looked This Good!

James McAvoy (X-Men, Atonement) returns to the stage in an inventive new adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, broadcast live to cinemas from London’s West End, Saturday, January 15 at 1:00pm at Arena Theater. This is a stunning new production from National Theatre Live.

Fierce with a pen and notorious in combat, Cyrano almost has it all – if only he could win the heart of his true love Roxane. There’s just one big problem: he has a nose as huge as his heart. Will a society engulfed by narcissism get the better of Cyrano – or can his mastery of language set Roxane’s world alight?

Edmond Rostand’s masterwork is adapted by Martin Crimp and directed by Jamie Lloyd (Betrayal). This classic play will be brought to life with linguistic ingenuity to celebrate Cyrano’s powerful and resonant resistance against overwhelming odds. All attendees must be fully vaccinated. Tickets are $20, $5 youth (18 and under. The running time is 180 minutes with one intermission.

*Anita Joy Uwajeh and Eben Figueiredo in Cyrano de Bergerac. Photograph by Marc Brenner*

In addition to McAvoy as Cyrano, the cast includes Anita-Joy Uwajeh (Roxane) with a feminist strength and Eben Figueiredo (Christian), Michele Austin (pastry cook), Tom Edden (De Guiche.)

Ben Brantley wrote (in the New York Times), "A bright and noble passion floods the Jamie Lloyd Company’s ravishing “Cyrano de Bergerac,” starring a fiercely romantic James McAvoy in the title role. Contrary to expectation, it is not the passion of a man for a woman.

Or a woman for a man. Or for that matter, two men for each other, though all these feelings are freshly and revealingly considered. . . ."

Michael Billington wrote in the Guardian, "This version of Edmond Rostand’s play . . . is not exactly Cyrano as we know it. It may not even be as we like it. But I found myself gradually warming to this radical deconstruction of Rostand’s heroic comedy and totally captivated by James McAvoy’s performance as the swaggering Gascon."

Arena Theater is at 214 Main Street, Highway One, in Point Arena. Information is at ArenaTheater.org. The Arena Theater snack bar be open. All attendees 12 and over must be vaccinated.