Cyrano

Gr 7—10—Geraldine McCaughrean's charming re-imagining (Harcourt, 2006) of Edmond Rostand's 1897 play is perfect for a full-cast audio production. Cyrano, an unattractive and long-nosed Frenchman in the Company of Guards, pines for his beautiful cousin, Roxanne, who is smitten with the handsome but tongue-tied young soldier, Christian de Neuvillette. Cyrano agrees to help Christian compose and deliver romantic speeches and letters to Roxanne, allowing him to express his true feelings for her while hiding behind the solider. When the Company attacks the Spanish city of Arras, Christian is killed in battle. Roxanne, visiting him on the front, witnesses his death. Shetakes refuge at a convent where she enjoys Cyrano's weekly visits. In a bittersweet twist, the truth of Cyrano's love for her is revealed moments before his death. McCaughrean's turns of phrase are simply divine (e.g., Roxanne speaks Christian's name "as if biting into honeycomb"; a heartbroken Cyrano ponders why "the blood from his soul did not stain [Roxanne's] fingertips" when she touches his jacket). Trevor Hill voices Cyrano with impressive sincerity and emotional range. The full cast does a fine job voicing the other characters. McCaughrean's interpretation of Cyrano hews much closer to the original story than Jody Gehrman's thoroughly modern Triple Shot Bettys in Love (Dial, 2009). This classic love story is worth hearing anew.—Amy Pickett, Ridley High School, Folsom, PA