Cyrano de Bergerac: An Heroic Comedy in Five Acts

"Cyrano de Bergerac: An Heroic Comedy in Five Acts" by Edmond Rostand is a dramatic play written in the late 19th century. The play centers around the complex character Cyrano, a talented poet and swordsman, who struggles with self-doubt due to his unusually large nose, which he fears makes him unlovable. Set against the backdrop of 17th-century France, the story explores themes of love, honor, and the quest for identity. At the start of the play, the scene is set in the bustling Hôtel de Bourgogne Theatre before a performance. Various characters are introduced, setting up a lively atmosphere filled with banter and anticipation. Among them is Christian, a handsome yet insecure man who admires Roxane, a woman of beauty and intellect. The opening establishes Cyrano’s formidable reputation as a duelist and poet, as well as hints at the deep love he harbors for Roxane, making the audience eager to witness how his unique blend of talent, bravery, and insecurity will unfold as the story progresses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Edmond Eugène Alexis Rostand was a French poet and dramatist. He is associated with neo-romanticism and is known best for his 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac. Rostand's romantic plays contrasted with the naturalistic theatre popular during the late nineteenth century. Another of Rostand's works, Les Romanesques (1894), was adapted to the 1960 musical comedy The Fantasticks.