Rehearsing Cyrano

by Linda Eisenstein

The Duel in Verse: Valvert (Erica Vural) vs. Cyrano (Lauren Haney); Wesleyan College; photo: Sarah Mannle

SYNOPSIS: Women turn a classic inside out: students at a women's college stage their own version of "Cyrano de Bergerac," experimenting with men's roles, power, and playmaking. Full of poetry, song, improv comedy, sword fights -- as well as explorations of gender roles and body image -- this boisterous comedy with drama is a love letter to the transforming powers of theatre. CAST: Flexible ensemble - 10-14f, 1m AWARDS: Finalist, 2001 Jane Chambers Playwriting Competition REQUIREMENTS: 2 acts, 95 minutes. Simple unit set. 3 songs (guitar or piano).

• Production history: Wesleyan College (Macon, GA); Red Hen Productions (Cleveland, OH); National School of the Arts (Johannesburg, South Africa).

"...Tremendous fun. But make no mistake: Much of this script is philosophically challenging and quite thought-provoking. Yet the opening night audience was spellbound throughout." - Macon Telegraph

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

An ensemble of 10-14 females, 1 male; all but one play college students. The more diverse -- by race, ethnicity, looks, size, sexuality -- the better.

MAYA: A bright but difficult student. N'OMI: Her roommate and best friend; a videographer. ANGELA: Her chief rival; a theater diva. DR. POWERS: A harried female faculty advisor. KENYETTE: A jock. Quiet and competent. MARISSA: Pretty, high-strung, and over-extended. TANYA: A techie. Droll & observant. TEENA: Angela's friend, a sorority girl. FELICE: An art student/costumer. KEVIN: A well-meaning guy. ENSEMBLE: Female students playing various roles. Cast doubles in the roles of Cyrano, Roxane, Christian, DeGuiche, LeBret, soldiers, nuns, etc., in the play-within-the-play.

Red Hen cast, photograph by R. L. Schnellbacher

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