Classic play ‘Cyrano’ now playing at Nevada Theatre

Photo by Bob Lickter John Deaderick stars as Cyrano and Skyeler Myers portrays Roxanne in the classic play.

“Its values and virtues are theatrical. It’s larger than life. It’s up there with Hamlet, King Lear and Oedipus. This is one of the greatest plays of all,” said John Deaderick, who will star as Cyrano, a character with an extraordinarily long nose that serves as a burden and a motivator for this ultimate renaissance man.

The classic and tragic tale of Cyrano De Bergerac will be shown this Friday and Saturday at the Nevada Theatre in downtown Nevada City. The evening shows start at 8 p.m. The Saturday matinee starts at 2 p.m.

“Its values and virtues are theatrical. It’s larger than life. It’s up there with Hamlet, King Lear and Oedipus. This is one of the greatest plays of all,” said John Deaderick, who will star as Cyrano, a character with an extraordinarily long nose that serves as a burden and a motivator for this ultimate renaissance man.

Deaderick will co-direct Cyrano with Theo Black, who plays the handsome yet dim-witted Christian De Neuvillette. The play is being produced by Paul Emery Productions of Nevada City.

The two lead characters represent just a fraction of a cast that includes 21 local actors playing more than 40 parts. Deaderick said the original play, which debuted in 1905, has more than 60 parts. The Sierra College acting teacher said he has spent the better part of the past several months editing and rewriting verse for the more condensed version of a play.

In a recent interview, the directors said the play begins the moment theatre patrons walk in the door at 401 Broad Street.

“From the get-go, this is interactive theater. When the audience enters, they will see characters. It’s the kind of show you will remember for all time. It’s a theatrical event,” said Black, who has performed at Shakespeare festivals at Lake Tahoe and Washington, D.C.

Deaderick said those who attend the play, which is set in the year 1640, will find themselves in the middle of the action at times.

“The whole inside of the Nevada Theatre is the set,” the veteran actor said. “We are going to treat the audience as characters in the play. In fact, Act 1 is set in the theater.”

The first act features a fencing duel that not only sets the tone for the production but goes from the stage to the seating area where the audience will get a closer look at Cyrano’s many talents.

“In the opening scene, he does a sword fight while composing a ballad and humiliating the opponent,” said Black. “It’s all about the guy with the big nose.”

The strained and complicated relationship of the main characters revolves around Roxanne, who is played by Skyeler Myers. Cyrano wants to court Roxanne but due to doubts that come with his outsized nose does not pursue her openly. Instead, he channels his romantic prose through Christian, who becomes the object of Roxanne’s affections until she discovers he lacks the intellect for such stirring language.

The large cast began rehearsing six days a week in early January. The rehearsals will move to the Nevada Theatre on Jan. 18, according to the directors.

The cast includes well-known local actors like Jimmy and Danny McCammon, Kate Fingerson, Scott Young, T.E. Wolfe and Eric Tomb. Pam Hodges is the set designer, while Sharon Olson is the costume designer.

Emery, who produced his first show at the Nevada Theatre in 1971, said he believes the timing is right for a classic play like Cyrano to be shown in Nevada City.

“We’ve found in years past that classic theater really works in mid-winter slots when people are in a thoughtful mode,” he said.

The play opens on Thursday, Feb. 11, and will be shown a total of 12 times with single performances on Thursday and Friday nights and two performances on Saturdays. The last show will be on Saturday, Feb. 27. For more information, visit www.cyranonevadacity.com or call 530-478-1974.