Cyrano

'Cyrano' with Peter Dinklage & music by The National coming to off-Broadway this fall

Back in 2018, it was revealed that members of The National teamed with theater writer/director Erica Schmidt for a new musical adaption of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, simply titled Cyrano, which made its “developmental production” debut in Connecticut in September 2018. The piece — which features music by Aaron and Bryce Dessner and lyrics from Matt Berninger and his wife Carin Besser (who he also collaborates with on National lyrics) — will now have a new off-Broadway run this fall, produced by The New Group, with Peter Dinklage in the titular role.

Performances take place October 11 – November 24 at the Daryl Roth Theatre (101 East 15th St). Tickets go on sale Tuesday (8/27) at 10 AM.

For more of an idea of what to expect, here’s an excerpt of Showriz‘s review of the Connecticut run:

Dinklage is dazzling. Most of the music is lovely,, moody, evocative, and all of a piece: just right for this particular, more modern feel for the play. The staging is smart, fluid, and grounded… Lovely touches of movement and some beautiful visual motifs. Mostly fine singing, too. Dinklage has a haunting low register and his numbers are crafted for his strengths. He is as spellbinding in his songs as he is in speech.

The first act is terrific. The second act needs work. But the ending is a letdown, but nothing some restaging and rethinking can’t address.

And no, it’s not about the nose.

Though Cyrano’s nose is mentioned a few times in the beginning of the show, it’s not about that singular distinction. Dinklage has a song “When I Was Born,” and in it he sings fiercely of parental rejection of his physical self. But everyone around his adult self sees him as a sui genesis talent, for his skills as a poet, wordsmith, soldier and swordsman — though we hardly see any swordplay here, which is just fine. It’s not really about the swords either.

What this production gets mostly right is how it cuts right to the heart of the matter.

You can read more here.