Three Cyranos for the price of one in new adaptation

Jul 31 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Off the Ground theatre company presents an open air tour of Cyrano de Bergerac _320

THERE are several chances to see a unique open-air production of Cyrano de Bergerac at venues around Wirral and Chester over the weekend.

Off the Ground theatre company, based in West Kirby, has been staging outdoor performances for the last 14 years.

Their annual summer tours – only halted once, during the foot and mouth crisis – take the players around the region and then to Ireland for a number of dates.

Their adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, by writer Helen Newell, puts an unusual spin on the story of the big-nosed, big-hearted romantic.

It approaches the tale from the point of view of three different Cyranos – the man he was originally based on, the character, and the actor playing the character of the man (keep up!).

Its cast of 17 professional and student actors is unusually large for a production of this nature.

Producer Stewart Jones said: “We tried to find a way of doing the story that people know but without re-telling something like other stage versions as people would expect, so we linked the three ‘parts’ of Cyrano.

“The characters are really well drawn by Helen and it really tugs on the heartstrings.”

It will be performed at Abbey Green, Chester, tonight, in Ness Gardens tomorrow and Saturday, and Leasowe Castle, Wirral, on Tuesday, August 5.

Mr Jones continued: “It’s a night out, and we encourage people to bring a picnic and a bottle of wine.

“We have really good support locally. Even in the rain if people still turn up you can’t not go on – it’s really flattering to have that support.”

Tickets are £10 (£7 concs) available from the venues and on the door.