Cyrano

toc by Lily, Jocelyn, and Brittany

= = = Edmond Eugene Alexis Rostand = by Jocelyn

The glorious morning of April 1, 1868 in Marseille, France would forever go down in history as the birth of this great man, Edmond Rostand. He made his living as a play writer, providing entertainment for his fellow men. Edmond Rostand departed from thisworld on December 2, 1918 in the famous city of Paris.

= Main Characters = by Lily


 * Cyrano de Bergerac** - the main character. He speaks with eloquent language, and has a big nose. He is in love with Roxane, but he thinks he is too ugly for her. He expresses his love through the handsome Christian, experiencing Roxane’s love vicariously through him.
 * Christian de Neuvillette** - Cyrano’s friend who is also in love with Roxane. He is handsome, but is not a great speaker. Cyrano tells Christian what to say to win Roxane’s heart.
 * Roxane** - the love interest. She loves Christian for his looks, but then starts loving him for the way he speaks. Unfortunately, it was not actually Christian speaking.
 * De Guiche** - dislikes Cyrano. He puts Cyrano and the other Gasconians into the most dangerous battles of the war with the Spanish, and is trying to get revenge on Cyrano.
 * Rageneau** - the chef. He gives food to poets in return for hearing their works. His wife gets fed up with his foolishness, and leaves him for a musketeer.
 * Le Bret** - Cyrano’s friend. He is a soldier, and tries to be Cyrano’s voice of reason.

= Act 1 = by Brittany

People are coming to see a play called **//La Clorise//** in **1640** at the **Hotel de Bourgogne.** The audience is conversing and waiting for the play to begin. Ligniere is talking to the handsome Christian de Neuvilette about the women whom he is in love with, Roxane. Cyrano de Bergerac is also expected to show up, since he has a strong distaste for the man performing in //La Clorise,// Montfleury. Cyrano had banned him from performing plays for a month at that theatre. Soon, Christian spots Roxane. Ligniere tells him that she is supposed to marry Valvert. Christian wants to challenge him to a duel, and when he reaches into his back pocket for a glove he discovers a thief is trying to pickpocket him. He learns from the thief that Ligniere is going to be ambushed by a hundred men on his way home, and leaves to save him. The play is finally set to begin, and Montfleury steps on stage dressed as a shepherd. When he attempts to say his lines, he is interrupted by a loud voice in the crowd each time. Cyrano finally stands up on his chair and the crowd is in an uproar.

=Act 2 = by Brittan y

Ragueneau's bakery is the setting here. He's obsessed with poetry and is reciting all of his recipes in verse. Cyrano comes in and tells him he is meeting somebody. He keeps asking what the time is and cannot sit still. Some poets arrive to eat Ragueneau's pastries and describe to him what they taste like poetically. Cyrano tries to write Roxane a letter. She eventually arrives and Cyrano orders everybody else away. He sends the duenna away with pastries so they can be alone. While they talk, Roxane describes somebody she's in love with. Cyrano thinks it's him, and is delighted at first, but thinks otherwise when she describes the person as "handsome". **Basically, she friend-zoned him**. When she explains the person is Christian de Neuvilette, Cyrano is devastated but does not show it. Roxane tells him she wants him to protect Christian and never pick a fight with him. After she expresses friendly love for Cyrano, she leaves.

=Act 3 = by Jocelyn Ragueneau's wife ran off with another man and he tried to commit suicide, but Cyrano saved him. Roxane declares her love for Christian to Cyrano after reading Christian's letters. She believes Cyrano is jealous of Christian's skills in poetry. De Guiche arrives at Rozane home and Cyrano hides. De Guiche said to Roxane that he is leaving to Spain in the war. Roxane, afraid for Christian's safety, convinces De Guiche to leave Cyrano and is cadets behind. Roxane plans on having Christian confess his love to her with a speech. Christian denies help from Cyrano about the speech. When Roxane and Christian meet, all Christian could say was, "I love you, I adore you, and I love you very much." Roxane walks off angry. Christian asks help from Cyrano and Christian recites the words Cyrano whispers to Roxane. Cyrano and Christian switch places and Cyrano is reciting to Roxane concealed in the dark. Christian asks for a kiss, which he receives. A priest delieves a letter from de Guiche saying he escaped the military and is hiding in a convent. Lying about the true content, Roxane says that de Guiche wants the priest to marry Roxane and Christian. With a little convincing, they get married on the spot with Cyrano outside. De Guiche arrives with an insane speech about being in outer space. De Guiche finds out that Christian and Roxane are now married. De Guiche congratulates them coldly and says that Cyrano, Christian and the cadets have to go to war after all. Afraid for Christian, Roxane has Cyrano promise to keep Christian safe and for Christian to write everyday.

=Act 4 = by Lily

The Gasconians are fighting the Spanish, and they are all dying of starvation. Cyrano has been risking his life every day to send love letters to Roxane. The Gasconians start making fun of De Guiche, who then arrives to yell at them. Soon afterward, Roxane arrives. She had no trouble getting through the Spanish forces, telling them she was going to see her lover. She brings food and feeds the soldiers. Roxane tells Christian that she does not love him for his looks anymore, but only for his soul. Cyrano gives Christian a farewell letter to give to Roxane, in the case he died in the battle. Christian reads the letter, and realizes that Cyrano was in love with Roxane. He begs Cyrano to tell the truth about the letters before leaving for battle. Christian comes back, and he was shot and is dying. Christian dies believing that Roxane knows about the letters, and yet still loves him. In truth, however, Cyrano did not tell her about the letters.

=Act 5 = by Lily

This act takes place fifteen years later. Roxane lives in a convent, mourning Christian’s death. Cyrano visits her every week, bringing news of the outside world. Le Bret and Rageneau are talking about how Cyrano is dying of a head injury. Even though he is close to death, he covers his injury with a hat and visits Roxane. He asks her if he can read Christian’s farewell letter, and he starts reading aloud. Roxane realizes that Cyrano has been writing the letters all these years, but Cyrano denies it. Rageneau and Le Bret enter, and tell Roxane that Cyrano is dying. Cyrano dies soon after in Roxane’s arms.

Here is a link to a video on Youtube of a scene from Cyrano de Bergerac when he gives the long speech about his nose. [|Cyrano de Bergerac (1950) English - "Nose Speech"]

= Work Cited =

"AVENUE EDMOND ROSTAND | Q-R." //AVENUE EDMOND ROSTAND | Q-R//. Web. 31 May 2012. .

"Cyrano De Bergerac and Roxane." //BonzaSheila.com//. Web. 31 May 2012. .


 * "Edmond Rostand Biography." //Bio.com//. A&E Networks Television. Web. 01 June 2012. .