Cyrano

See it if You enjoy Jason O'Connell and his quirkiness. There is humor in this drama brought about by a talented and fun cast.

Don't see it if You want a straight version of Cyrano. They make some interesting choices that seemed to be played just for the laugh vs for the story.

See it if You are up for a take on the original that is clever & entertaining. Great setting & fine actors!

Don't see it if You prefer sitting in a theater to being in a natural setting

See it if You want to see a solid adaptation at a wonderful venue. You enjoy adaptations that are anachronistic.

Don't see it if You dislike anachronisms in adaptations. You dislike plays where supporting characters are largely caricature.

Also "Got me looking so crazy, my baby
I'm not myself; lately I'm foolish, I don't do this
I've been playing myself; baby, I don't care
'Cause your love's got the best of me
And, baby, you're making a fool of me." -Beyonce

This Beyonce classic is used as walk-on music for Roxanne, played wonderfully by Britney Simpson. The show lives in an anachronistic state, refusing to be either full-blown modern adaptation, nor a simple translation.

This equivocation extends to the tone of the play as well, living somewhere between farce and humanist drama.

Where Cyrano shone brightest, for me, was in its moments when Cyrano, played with ample charisma by Jason O'Connell, was most vulnerable.

The representation of Cyrano's nose actually helps make Cyrano enormously relatable. It is often pointed out to him that he might be making a bigger deal out of what is only a moderate disfigurement, and I think we can all relate to fixating on our own physical imperfections.... Read more Read less

See it if C it 2 laugh widely & cry freely at the same play To appreciate a take on Cyrano that is faithful to heroics & romance but has a fresh wit

Don't see it if If you don't like tom foolery or intentionally over the top performance, or if you might be turned off by a somewhat indulgent adaptation

Also Jason O'Connell is well worth traveling for and the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival has a beautiful location.!

If you have mobility challenges they will work to accomodate you with accessible seating, golf carts & escorts. Just call the Box office a few days in advance to alert them.

Go early if you can and picnic on the beautiful grounds, enjoy the astonishing view. But beware of the MANY flying insects. Wear bug repellent & esp try to cover you feet and ankles - it gets crazy when the sun goes down & the insects are drawn to the lighted stage area.... Read more Read less

See it if for a pleasant evening in Boscobel's tent to enjoy a grand old warhorse stripped down to its essentials by a winning company of 5 actors

Don't see it if you don't like anachronisms, require spectacle, or aren't willing to have a classic slapped around a bit to fit the demands of reduced cast

Also The adaptation of the Rostand's 5-act Romantic drama is the main reason to see this production, which is hopefully the first workshop of a piece that will have further life in the regions & nearer to NYC. It's a producer's dream: deliver a 19th century spectacle without the expense of a huge period-costumed cast & a set for each act, from the backstage of a Paris theatre to a battlefield in the Pyrenees.
Adaptors Jason O'Connell (who also plays the title role) & Brenda Withers have taken a page from Kate Hamill's stripped down, actor-driven adaptations of Austen in the crossed-gender, multi-role actors as well as in the mixing of period sensibility with anachronistic locutions & contemporary attitudes. For the most part, the company make this work (though at the performance I attended, one of the quintet was an understudy stepping in for an ailing actor and sometimes resorted to holding book; while valiant, the company had to pull him along in their well-oiled choreography.)... Read more Read less

See it if seeing a show at boscobel is about more than just the theater - the picnic on the hudson and the unbelievable setting elevates everything

Don't see it if The acting is uneven, the sets and props are amateurish but they try to bring humor and modernize these classics for wide appeal.

See it if You like drama 'light' done in that unique way which HVSF does so well with a great cast and an amusing touch. This is well worth the trip.

Don't see it if If you like your drama 'straight' with a large cast and all characters 'in character' and you can't be bothered to travel to Cold Spring NY.

See it if Traditional classical productions without In your face political correctness as a subplot. Fine acting and staging in a bucolic venue

Don't see it if Only interested in fluff

Also More professional, and authentic and less pedantic than
Shakespeare in Central Park.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy a unique theatre experience on a beautiful hudson valley night and can appreciate a very hard working cast with a lot of dialogue

Don't see it if you can't embrace and support innovative regional productions that deserve an appreciative audience and if you need air conditioned space

See it if to experience a classic made accessible through modernized dialogue, wonderfully performed by a cast with great comedic timing

Don't see it if would be bothered by a minimalist set, cast, costumes, and the occasional anachronism

Also Same cast/production, but at the Two River venue.

A clever fourth-wall-breaking opening scene helps draw the audience in making the statement that there's a bit of Cyrano in all of us.

The choice to non-literally portray Cyano's facial disfigurement leaves the extent of its severity to audience's imagination-- a nice touch in my opinion.

This was my first exposure to any production of Cyrano, so I have no point of comparison, but Act I was very much a comedy whereas Act II was very much a drama; I would have preferred a more even tone throughout. It was nevertheless thoroughly entertaining, and for the most part, I felt the anachronisms added to the production value helping to make the material more accessible.... Read more Read less

See it if If you like moving performances, original staging and one of the greatest actors of our time PETER Dinklage . I cried at the war scene.

Don't see it if If you listen to critics who panned it, decide for yourself, the acting and singing was fabulous! It closes Sunday so try get there.

See it if You like intelligent comedy. The writing and acting are spectacular! So much fun!

Don't see it if I can’t think of a good reason not to.

See it if want to see a stripped-down and entertaining version this classic tale in one of the best & unique outdoor locations for theatre in New York

Don't see it if you want to see the best of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival productions - and if you like your theatre indoors.

See it if Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival at Boscobel is always enjoyable. It is a perfect way to spend a summer evening.

Don't see it if You do not enjoy outdoor theater

Also The acting was excellent. The man who played Cyrano was great! My 15 year old niece enjoyed the show. We love Nance!... Read more Read less

See it if You love the original classic but always yearned for the classic’s emotional size without the fustian. Terrific acting. Jason splendid.

Don't see it if You don’t want to both laugh and cry.

See it if You want to go to a beautiful place to see a show!

Don't see it if A tad overlong. Play is in the thrust, but staged for a proscenium, so I wouldn’t recommend sitting on the sides.

See it if You enjoy classic style comedies with modern day raunch and humor, great ensemble acting, and comedy bits.

Don't see it if You prefer contemporary language and story lines, dramatic works, or dislike adaptations.

See it if You enjoy great performance - Jason O'Connell is remarkable and George Merrick shows off his skill and experience with great flair

Don't see it if You are looking for a traditional adaptation, this is a cross between Steve Martin's Roxanne and the classic or if you dislike outdoor venue

Also Jason O'Connell & Brenda Withers have written a classy and witty adaptation. In the playbill O'Connell describes this as "a gently irreverent and deeply affectionate adapatation" which is a perfect description.

O'Connell and Merrick are fantastic !!! O'Connell as Cyrano is the Dork Knight ( his must see solo show) with romantic flair and killer vocabluary.

Britney Simpson is also strong as Roxanne and worth looking for again.

Nance Williamson on the other hand is an odd choice for the role of La Bref and I was distracted by her performance not for the gender bending but because it felt like her efforts to project in the outdoor venue took precedence over any subtly in the role.... Read more Read less

See it if You like classics delivered creatively and playfully; enjoy grand romance, swashbuckling sword action, and humor

Don't see it if You want a strictly period-accurate piece in language, setting, and structure

See it if You love classics, wonderful captivating vocals and slow-paced (But well thought) choreography.

Don't see it if You don’t like classics.

See it if you love Cyrano and are curious about different interpretations, appreciate lighting and movement (both are so beautifully presented here).

Don't see it if you're looking for a cookie-cutter Cyrano.

See it if People of all ages will enjoy this show but older teens and adults will really feel it's profound impact. Very moving.

Don't see it if Younger children are a risk to bring to this show because its relevance will go over their heads but it's still entertaining and fun.

See it if you like an ideal romance story.

Don't see it if you always want the good guy to win at the end.

See it if You like outdoor theater, unique staging, 5 person cast, great story and retelling of a classic. Great acting , fun night

Don't see it if Don’t like 5 person cast each playing multiple roles, has a contemporary spin so don’t see if want precise retelling of original story

See it if You enjoy outdoor theater and for Jason O'Connell who is just fantastic as Cyrano + innovative script

Don't see it if You want a conventional approach to de Bergerac - this is a cross between the more comedic approaches and the heart wrenching classic