Only Three Shows Left for *Cyrano*!

Our splendid photographer, John Nollendorfs, presents the Flatwater Shakespeare Company production of Cyrano de Bergerac in 2 1/2 minutes!

You have three chances to see the full-length version at The Haymarket Theatre, 803 "Q" Street in Lincoln -- tonight and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:00pm.

Call 402-473-2897 for reservations!

Still: Amy Jirsa as Roxane and David Landis as Count de Guiche in Flatwater Shakespeare's Cyrano de Bergerac, directed by Bob Hall.  Photo/Video Credit: John Nollendorfs.

Last Weekend for *Cyrano de Bergerac*!

"My own dearly beloved -- and my heart / Still so heavy with love I have not told, / And I die without telling you!"

Only four more performances of Edmond Rostand's romantic classic, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30p and Sunday at 2p! The Haymarket Theatre, 803 "Q" Street in Lincoln.

Call 402-473-2897 now!

And little background on the history behind this play --

 

Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac (1619 – 1655) was a French playwright, poet, prose writer, free-thinker, and soldier. His family was Gascogne aristocracy, which led to service in the Gascon guards in 1639 and 1640, including the Siege of Arras during the Thirty Years War (see below). His literary talents in both tragedy and comedy attracted the attention of court officials interested in cultivating an idealized approach to “national theater.” Cyrano apparently went his own way instead, although he eventually published political tracts supporting the policies of Cardinal Mazarin, who succeeded Cardinal Richelieu as Chief Minister of France (and whom Cyrano had previously satirized). One of his comedies, Le pédant joué, was indeed so good that Moliére borrowed substantial passages from it in his Scapin. Always outspoken, Cyrano called approving attention to the work of Pierre Gassendi, a priest and philosopher who encouraged applying the idea of atoms (found in ancient Epicureanism) to developing science. This interest in rational inquiry is reflected in Cyrano's two pioneering works of science fiction: The Other World: or the States and Empires of the Moon (circulated in manuscript and then published in 1657, after his death) and The States and Empires of the Sun (1662) propose fanciful modes of space travel and offer slyly satirical depictions of the Moon's and Sun's inhabitants and civilizations. The character in Rostand's play is based less on the historical record and more upon the qualities of intelligence, imagination, and independence evident in Cyrano's life and works.

Photo: Amy Jirsa as Roxane and Vince Learned as Cyrano in Flatwater Shakespeare's production of Cyrano de Bergerac.  Photo Credit: John Nollendorfs.

Special Event at Veterans Administration: Ancient Greeks, Modern Lives

There are two free community events coming up tomorrow, October 17, in the auditorium at the Veterans Administration Center at 600 S. 70th St. in Lincoln.

Professional actors from the Aquila Theatre Company, based in New York City, will give an acting workshop and do a staged reading of scenes from Greek drama. 

The performance workshop is at 5:00 in the VA Center’s auditorium, and should last from an hour to an hour and a half. 

Then, at 7:00, the actors will performed a staged reading of scenes from ancient Greek tragedies; that’s also in the auditorium, and it should last anywhere from 1-2 hours (the performance itself is 45 minutes, followed by questions and discussion with the audience).

Again, both of these events are free and open to the public!

For more information about the events and additional program visit

 

http://journalstar.com/news/local/education/war-s-anguish-then-and-now/article_097f207b-a365-50c8-8f7b-021ed5e04006.html

For more information about the Ancient Greeks, Modern Lives project visit

http://ancientgreeksmodernlives.org/

"Dramatic Depth" -- Flatwater Shakespeare's *Cyrano*

from the Lincoln Journal Star review, October 11, 2012

. . . Although the obvious elements of Cyrano’s nose, the swordplay and the rat-a-tat-tat of Cyrano’s poetic zeal are easily remembered, there also is a depth of drama present in the play.

The drama of loneliness, fear of rejection, insecurity masked by extravagance, and unrequited love.

As the title character, Vince Learned for the most part treads a delicate balance juggling these vacillating aspects of Cyrano. He ably delivers a grandiose characterization that moves from prattling speech to acerbic verbal dissection.

But he also dispenses the poignancy that is required to make Cyrano a true dramatic character. Learned is perhaps at his finest during the balcony scene where he woos Roxane (Amy Jirsa) for the young soldier Christian (Nate Weiss), delivering a hauntingly honest expression of his love for Roxane that he cloaks in the shadows of obscurity . . .

Weiss’ performance as Christian is solid and stable throughout. His haughty introduction to Cyrano was played with bravado and conviction.

Also pleasing is Lincoln theater veteran David Landis as nobleman de Guiche, Cyrano’s adversary. Landis’ confident portrayal settles well, allowing an easy merger between actor and role . . .

Under Bob Hall’s direction, Flatwater Shakespeare’s Cyrano most certainly is an entertaining, as well as an empathic, piece that should prove satisfying.

The Flatwater Shakespeare Company 's Cyrano de Bergerac 

continues October 12-14 and 18-21 

at The Haymarket Theatre, 803 “Q” Street, Lincoln. 

Show times are 7:30 pm Thursdays-Saturdays and 2:00 pm Sundays.

Call 402-473-2897 for reservations. 

Photo: Darin Hemmer as Valvert and Vince Learned as Cyrano in Flatwater Shakespeare's Cyrano de Bergerac.  Photo Credit: John Nollendorfs.

 

"Friends of Flatwater" Special for *Cyrano*!

"Blessed above all others be the hour / When you remembered to remember me . . . "

The Flatwater Shakespeare Company will stage Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand's classic romance, October 11-14 and 18-21, at The Haymarket Theatre, 803 “Q” Street in Lincoln. Show times are 7:30 pm Thursdays-Saturdays and 2:00 pm Sundays.

For opening night, October 11, we will have tickets available for $5! Just mention that you'd like the “Friends of Flatwater” rate at the box office.

Call 402-473-2897 for reservations. 

 

Photo: Amy Jirsa as Roxane and Vince Learned as Cyrano in the Flatwater Shakespeare Company production of Cyrano de Bergerac.  Credit: John Nollendorfs.