Cyrano de Bergerac

Edmond Rostand's 1897 play—revolving around the dashing titular cavalier with the prominent proboscis who uses his eloquence to assist a handsome but tongue-tied suitor woo the girl he himself loves—is presented in this PBS-aired taping of the 2007 Broadway revival. Based on the translation by Anthony Burgess (which closely matches the poetic elegance of the original), this is an attractive production that boasts lavish sets and costumes. And while Kevin Kline doesn't bring the full measure of pathos to the title role (the scene in which Cyrano's longstanding devotion is finally revealed misses some of the inherent poignancy), his thespian dexterity (both verbally and physically) makes for a highly enjoyable performance (one can only marvel at his work in the opening scene's duel, a virtuoso display of simultaneous declamation and acrobatics, especially remarkable for a 60-year-old man). Jennifer Garner's Roxane and Daniel Sunjata's inarticulate Christian aren't nearly as impressive, but the rest of the supporting cast shine (including Chris Sarandon as the smarmy De Guiche). Although excellent versions of Cyrano de Bergerac already exist on DVD—including Michael Gordon's 1950 adaptation with Oscar winner Jose Ferrer, and Jean-Paul Rappeneau's 1990 French film starring Gerard Depardieu—this is still a worthy mounting. Recommended. (F. Swietek)