"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.