| rdfs:comment | - The action takes place in France in the mid 17th century. The play's title character and protagonist, although he is only a low-ranking soldier and is almost always short of cash, is an extremely talented individual. Among Cyrano's many other talents, he is a poet, an excellent swordsman and a very witty and eloquent speaker. Unfortunately, Cyrano believes himself to be ugly because of his very long nose. Cyrano falls in love with his beautiful cousin Roxane but lacks the confidence to speak to her about his love. Roxane falls in love with Baron Christian de Neuvillette, a very handsome man who is also a soldier in the same regiment as Cyrano. Christian loves Roxane in return but finds that he is unable to express his love for her in words. Believing that he has found a way to safely expre
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| abstract | - The action takes place in France in the mid 17th century. The play's title character and protagonist, although he is only a low-ranking soldier and is almost always short of cash, is an extremely talented individual. Among Cyrano's many other talents, he is a poet, an excellent swordsman and a very witty and eloquent speaker. Unfortunately, Cyrano believes himself to be ugly because of his very long nose. Cyrano falls in love with his beautiful cousin Roxane but lacks the confidence to speak to her about his love. Roxane falls in love with Baron Christian de Neuvillette, a very handsome man who is also a soldier in the same regiment as Cyrano. Christian loves Roxane in return but finds that he is unable to express his love for her in words. Believing that he has found a way to safely express his love for Roxane, Cyrano agrees to write love letters to her on Christian's behalf. When Christian comes to speak to Roxane one evening, she is disappointed by his lack of eloquence and sends him away. Cyrano agrees to come to Christian's assistance again. Under cover of darkness, Cyrano pretends to be Christian and gives voice to his love for Roxane. The play's central character is based on a genuine historical figure. Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac (March 6, 1619 - July 28, 1655) was a French novelist, playwright and duelist. Other historical figures and events are also referenced in the play. Its plot, however, is entirely a product of Rostand's imagination. Cyrano de Bergerac was first performed at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin in Paris on December 28, 1897. The role of Cyrano was first performed by Benoît-Constant Coquelin. Coquelin went on to play the part of Cyrano at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin four hundred and ten times and also toured North America in the role. The play was first performed in English in the United States in 1898. The title role was played by Richard Mansfield. The 1898 translation of Cyrano de Bergerac introduced the word "panache" into the English language. The best-known English translations of the play today are those of Brian Hooker and Anthony Burgess. There have been numerous adaptations of Cyrano de Bergerac to other media, among the best-known of which are the 1950 American film starring José Ferrer and the 1990 French-Hungarian film starring Gérard Depardieu.
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