History Theatre / CyranoDeBergerac

* ArcWords: ''Panache''. Hooker translated it as "white plume", while decades later Burgess kept it as ''panache''. Both approaches have their merits: while keeping ''panache'' untranslated makes the symbolic meaning immediately clear (and [[UsefulNotes/SchoolStudyMedia students]] would probably have an easier time with "What does the white plume symbolize" essays), in the context of the play Cyrano is talking about an actual decoration that is used to symbolize something, not just the concept or quality of ''panache'', akin to how an ancient Roman might talk about "laurels".

** '''Viscount:''' De Valvert is a {{Jerkass}} willing to be TheBeard for Count De Guiche.

* TheBeard: Viscount de Valvert is willing to marry Roxane so Count De Guiche will bully her to be his [[TheMistress mistress]].

* ComplimentBackfire: Cyrano tricks the poor Bore to invoke this trope (so he can literally kick the Bore's ass).
-->'''Cyrano:''' Why then that air disparaging? -- perchance you think it large? \\

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: This play is a blend of farce and drama, and his first act is placed at the Burgundy Theater. Cyrano has interrumpted the ShowWithinAShow ''La Clorise''. The rest of the theater actors are rehearsing a new play, and Cyrano invites them to look at a SwordFight he will have with one hundred men. ItMakesSenseInContext, but it still feels as though Cyrano is talking about his own play.

The play is VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory-- [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrano_de_Bergerac there really was]] a French playwright, duelist, and ghost writer of love letters named Cyrano de Bergerac, and the main characters in the play (Roxane, Christian, Le Bret, De Guiche) also existed. This play is as well researched as a RomanAClef, because Rostand was an academic that researched France’s literary environment [[TheCavalierYears in the 17th century]], so all the [[HistoricalDomainCharacter incidental writers, poets, actors]], period pieces, places and battles [[ShownTheirWork really existed at that time]].

There are two notable film adaptations: one from [[Film/CyranoDeBergerac1950 1950 in English]] (using the Hooker translation) which garnered a Best Actor for Creator/JoseFerrer, and the rapturously-acclaimed [[Film/CyranoDeBergerac 1990 French version]] directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau and starring Creator/GerardDepardieu (with the Burgess translation later used for subtitles); the latter is notable for being one of a small percentage of films to achieve a perfect 100% rating on WebSite/RottenTomatoes. In addition, the 1987 movie ''Film/{{Roxanne}}'', starring Steve Martin, is a [[SettingUpdate modernized take]] on the story; while not as acclaimed as the 1990 film, it's also considered highly worth watching. The Disney Channel original movie ''Let it Shine'' is also clearly based off of this play, even going as far as to giving the main characters similar names (Cyrano= Cyrus; Christian= Chris; Roxanne= Roxy, whose full name is actually Roxanne). ([[SoOkayItsAverage You can probably skip this one.]])

For the various other adaptations of the play, see [[Franchise/CyranoDeBergerac here]].

* CombatPragmatism: De Guiche, to the consternation of Cyrano and the Cadets. Throw away the scarf that is his badge of rank ? Sure, as it allows him to rejoin his troops, rally them and lead them to a victorious charge ! Using double agents ? Any time ! It will make the Spanish attack the one unit that will fight to the last man, giving time for the other half of the army to come back ( and since he hates the whole unit, it makes or a very nice bonus )

* PoirotSpeak: Ragueneau hears only a few words spoken in Gascon dialect and realizes that the Cadets are a regiment composed by Gascons. Notice those are the only Gascon words in the play (apart from some in Act IV) because the Gascon Cadets all talk in [[SurprisinglyGoodEnglish Surprisingly Good French]].

* TriangRelations: Type 4.

* LuckyTranslation: Cyrano says Valvert's name only has three letters: s-o-t, spelling ''sot'', French for fool. Both the Hooker and Burgess translations manage it with three letters too: a-s-s.

There are two notable film adaptations: one from 1950 in English (using the Hooker translation) which garnered a Best Actor for Creator/JoseFerrer, and the rapturously-acclaimed [[Film/CyranoDeBergerac 1990 French version]] directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau and starring Creator/GerardDepardieu (with the Burgess translation later used for subtitles); the latter is notable for being one of a small percentage of films to achieve a perfect 100% rating on WebSite/RottenTomatoes. In addition, the 1987 movie ''Film/{{Roxanne}}'', starring Steve Martin, is a [[SettingUpdate modernized take]] on the story; while not as acclaimed as the 1990 film, it's also considered highly worth watching. The Disney Channel original movie ''Let it Shine'' is also clearly based off of this play, even going as far as to giving the main characters similar names (Cyrano= Cyrus; Christian= Chris; Roxanne= Roxy, whose full name is actually Roxanne). ([[SoOkayItsAverage You can probably skip this one.]])

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Ragueneau mentioning Molière plagiarized one of Cyrano's writing in a line of ''The Schemes of Scapin'' ("What the deuce did he want to go in that galley for?") may look like some random BeenThereShapedHistory reference to modern audiences (due to the real Cyrano being now much less famous than Edmond Rostand's character), but it's based on the fact there's really a similar line in a play written by the real Cyrano (''The Pedant Tricked'', 1654).

* MeaningfulRename: Cyrano's cousin was named Madeleine Robin, but as a member of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pr%C3%A9cieuses Les Précieuses]], she took a new name in order to reflect the change in their role in life. "Roxane" is an Iranian Name (Roshanak) that means "Little Star" and was the name of princess Roxane, who married Alexander the Great. "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_relationships_of_Alexander_the_Great Roxane was said by contemporaries to be the most beautiful lady in all Asia]]". TruthInTelevision, because the RealLife Madeleine Robin chose this name.

** The character of Magdeleine Robin alias Roxane in a mix of two actual people: Magdeleine Robineau, the cousin of Cyrano and wife of the real-life Christian de Neuvillette, and [[NamesTheSame her (unrelated) homonym Marie Robineau]], a ''précieuse'' [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname who was going by the name of "Roxane"]].

* GrumpyBear: Despite all the evidence the audience can see to the contrary, Cyrano just cannot consider even for a second that Roxane actually might be able to look past his appearance and love him for his soul.

* TheCavalierYears: Acts I to IV are set in 1640 and Act V is set in V.

There are two notable film adaptations: one from 1950 in English (using the Hooker translation) which garnered a Best Actor for Creator/JoseFerrer, and the rapturously-acclaimed [[Film/CyranoDeBergerac 1990 French version]] directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau and starring Creator/GerardDepardieu (with the Burgess translation later used for subtitles); the latter is notable for being one of a small percentage of films to achieve a perfect 100% rating on WebSite/RottenTomatoes. In addition, the 1987 movie ''Film/{{Roxanne}}'', starring Steve Martin, is a [[SettingUpdate modernized take]] on the story; while not as acclaimed as the 1990 film, it's also considered highly worth watching. The Disney Channel original movie ''Let it Shine'' is also clearly based off of this play, even going as far as to giving the main characters similar names (Cyrano= Cyrus; Christian= Chris; Roxanne= Roxy, whose full name is actually Roxanne).