Chicago Theater(re) Takes on Cyrano

By Margaret Lyons in Arts & Entertainment on May 24, 2004 2:38PM

The Court Theatre and the Redmoon Theater are teaming up to co-produce Cyrano, a risky adaptation of the classic Cyrano De Bergerac. Charles Lewell, artistic director at the Court, is known for his sleek interpretations of classics—when he directed Hamlet in 2002, he cut Fortinbras completely out of the story. Jim Lasko, artistic director at Redmoon, is known for his avant-garde use of puppetry, masks, and community spectacles. The two have combined forces to retell the familiar love-triangle saga in a new way: out of order. The adaptation thwarts linear convention and instead has the first four acts sequenced as a flashback.
Cyrano is playing at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Previews are through May 26; performances start May 30 and run through June 27.