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Faculty of Arts

The Department of Theatre and Film's Production of "Cyrano": Nov. 22-25, 2011



The Department of Theatre and Film opened its 2011-12 season with their production of Cyrano by Frank Langella, an adaptation of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, which ran from Tues. Nov. 22 - Fri. Nov. 25, 2011 at the Gas Station Theatre.

Frank Langella's Cyrano offers a tight and fast-paced version of the famous tale of how a great swordsman and talented poet allows insecurity about his appearance to hijack his romantic ambitions and ultimately ruin his life and that of his intended love. A classic story, it is perhaps especially relevant in a day and age where the media bombards us with imagery that glorifies appearance over substance. In director Rick Skene's unique approach, this view is underlined by casting all of his players in the central role of Cyrano making each actor share and acknowledge the burden of his character's insecurities and in so doing reminding us that we all have to deal with our own.

For the audience, it obviously struck a cord as a brand new and entertaining interpretation of a familiar story of unrequited love. As an acting exercise, it presented a wonderful challenge to the entire cast in playing one character as an ensemble. So too were there challenges for our production students in mounting a lavish period piece requiring costumes and props in multiples. And, of course, for the women in the cast, this departmental production offered them a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play one of the most famous and sought-after male romantic roles in dramatic literature.

Artistic Staff
Director/Fight Choreographer . . . Rick Skene (Click here to go to the Director's Note.)
Set and Costume Design . . . Sean E. McMullen
Lighting Design . . . Tim Babcock
Assistant to the Lighting Designer . . . Jacqueline Robertson
Voice and Text Coach . . . Shannon Vickers
Scenic Artist . . . Carla Schroeder
Masks . . . Chris Sigurdson
Composer/Performer, "All I Have is My Heart" . . . Heather Thomas

Cast
Samantha Walters . . . Cyrano, Lise, Minstrel, Soldier, Roxanne
Amy Couldwell . . . Cyrano, Roxanne, Minstrel, Soldier, Nun
Brittany Thiessen . . . Cyrano, Roxanne, Nun, Soldier
Ana Darrach-Gagnon . . . Cyrano, De Guiche
Jessica Cheffins . . . Cyrano, Valvert, Soldier, Nun
Heather Thomas . . . Cyrano, Lise, Carbon, Nun
KB Greenhill . . . Cyrano, Ragueneau
Jenny Hooper . . . Cyrano, Le Bret
Lovey Jasysyn . . . Cyrano, Marguerite, Soldier
Devan Gingrich . . . Cyrano, Montfleury, De Guiche, Priest, Nun, Soldier
Sean Carlson . . . Cyrano, Christian

Stage Manager . . . Brett Mikulik
Assistant Stage Managers . . . Gina Kang, Lia Zarrillo

For more information about our program and future productions, visit our departmental website at http://theatre.uwinnipeg.ca.