Cyrano
By Edmond Rostand, adapted by Barry Kornhauser
Directing “Cyrano” was one of the most challenging and draining experiences of college. It was also one of the most rewarding. The experience of taking what I had learned in various drama classes and synthesizing these skills and knowledge was a powerful learning experience. And the task of leading a cast of 18 and a production team and crew of 15 was a fantastic opportunity for leadership and group collaboration.
"Cyrano" is a huge, epic play, and performing it in the intimate confines of the Cabaret Theatre presented several challenges. The costumes were based on late 19th century design (the time the play was written) while incorporating iconic elements of the 1640’s (the time the play is set) such as boots and plumed hats. The five distinct locations in the play had to be performed all on one versatile unit set adorned appropriately for each location. Rather than attempting a realistic design, the heightened world of poetry of the play was emphasized with French script written on the floor. There was also a large white curtain hung upstage center that represented Cyrano's panache and was lit with a different color for each scene. Rather than a proscenium setup with the audience in a straight line parallel to the playing space, I chose a thrust arrangement with the audience in an arc half surrounding the stage. While it created several challenges and forced the actors and me to be constantly aware of bodies in space and slight lines from a variety of directions, this new arrangement ultimately offered better sight lines, allowed the set to fill the space better, and created a more dynamic relationship between the audience and the actors, effectively playing up the idea of Cyrano’s place within society. The positive experiences of the cast as well as the positive reactions from audiences contributed to a positive experience overall, and a desire to direct more in the future. Presented by the Undergraduate Theatre Society, Winter 2013
Scenic Designer: Ryan Dunn Costume Designer: Trina Gonzales Lighting Designer: Julian Gifford Sound Designer: Alex Potter Makeup Designer: Jenny Henderson Props Masters: Kiera Peacock and Brandon Nevins Photography by Johnson Deng and Bobbin Ramsey |
From review in the UW Daily, February 27, 2013:
"The true feat, however, was the care every cast member showed for his or her character. There was such sincerity in the room that the audience had a tough time saying goodbye...Between laughter and tears “Cyrano” retells an age-old story to great effect." Full Review From review in the Seattle Star, March 5, 2013: "Director Ben Phillips has found the real poetry of Cyrano in this production. It is not a florid, Romantic poetry with its ideas of the tortured genius and all its attendant clichés, but rather a rough, hedonistic poetry more akin to the circus. Everything in this production crackles with life. Every gesture is grand. Every tableau is rococo. Every peripeteia is broad enough to border on caricature." "Mr. Phillips keeps a lid on the chaos with an excellent guiding hand. No matter how chaotic the proceedings on stage become, even when there are three or four levels of action, Mr. Phillips guides the audience exactly to where they ought to look, yet understanding that elsewhere life on the stage goes on. His sense of stage picture is remarkable for such a young director, and completely impressive." Full Review |