Cyrano de Bergerac
at Aliso Niguel

Reviewed on November 4, 2017

Justine Sombilon
La Habra
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Aliso Niguel's "Cyrano de Bergerac" Writes a Love Letter
written by Justine Sombilon, a senior at La Habra High School

How can one love a man when the man believes himself to be unlovable?

Aliso Niguel's fall production of "Cyrano de Bergerac" is a hilarious love letter to the power and beauty of words.

Cyrano de Bergerac, an incredibly eloquent nobleman with a tragically enormous nose, falls in love with the beautiful Roxane. As he believes that his love is unrequited, he pens love letters to her in the name of Christian, one of Roxane's more attractive suitors.

Aaron Pelt, who strongly plays the titular character, is able to portray varying emotions through the use of his voice. Booming and resonant as he challenges a commoner to a duel, or meek and stammering as he speaks to Roxane, Pelt moves through the story with confidence and vulnerability.

The beautiful Roxane (Samantha Burton) brings an honest sweetness as she listens intently, with her eyes sparkling and eyebrows furrowed in thought, to the audacious men around her.

Her handmaiden, Duenna, humorously played by Sarah Spencer, brings physical hilarity to the show. As she boisterously stumbles onto the stage with stains of powdered sugar and jam on her face, she is the perfectly outrageous foil to Roxane's sweet naïveté.

Luke Colombero is the dashing Christian, the handsome, albeit dim, lover of Roxane. Just as he realizes that Roxane's love for him is as weak as his letter-writing skills, the painful, grounded expressions on his face express all that his simple words cannot.

Ligniere, confidently played by Kalei Hall, is a formidable, energetic presence onstage, as she raises her brows in surprise and plants her feet firmly on the ground.

The set, efficiently designed by Alex Kamper, is used in multiple ways throughout the production: the benches double as blockades, the shelves become doorways, and the Aliso Niguel theater itself is converted into an extremely intimate stage space. This intimacy allows every sigh and smile to be seen by the audience, leaving the actors completely bare and unfiltered.

The ensemble of Aliso Niguel's "Cyrano de Bergerac" have endless energy and extremely truthful moments as they write their love letter to the powerful beauty of words.

Claire Johnson
La Habra
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Words Travel Farther than Looks in Aliso Niguel's Cyrano de Bergerac
written by Claire Johnson, a junior at La Habra High School

Immersed in France, thick accents all around, "Cyrano de Bergerac", performed by Aliso Niguel High School, is a stunning and powerful tale about love, looks, and sweet words.

Cyrano de Bergerac, written by Edmond Rostand, recites the story of Cyrano, a man cursed with an ugly face and absurdly large nose, but is blessed with romantic poetic writing skills. Christian de Neuvillette, blessed with a beautiful face, is cursed with an awkward and nervous mind. Both work together, and woo Roxane, but with Cyrano's words and Christian's looks.

Confident and ready to fight, Aaron Pelt as Cyrano De Bergerac, astonishingly dominates the role, by making every word count, expressed with deep emotion on his face, while wearing a covering hat. With his fierce, yet kind tone ,and loud distinctive voice, Pelt articulates a lonely man, just looking for love.

Roxane, portrayed by Samantha Burton, powerfully shifts from innocent, to destroyed throughout the story. Burton, with her expressive, and distinctive features, and heart warming smile, generates a strong connection towards the audience, and towards each actor.

Comte de Guiche, played by Tyler Owings, comically provides a slightly warmer side to this not so comedic story. Owings also shifts from being a "villainous character," to being endearing, and caring for Roxane in the end. In the war scene towards the end, where the cadets are hiding their recently obtained food from Owings, he trots around, and suspiciously looks at each and every cadet, wondering what they are doing, providing a chuckle of laughter trickle in the audience.

The set, created by Alex Kamper, constructed a very versatile stage, and encapsulated a whole story in the small amount of space. Every object was used, and none was left to waste. Each bench, and each stair was put to more than one use, while speedy transitions were achieved by the stage crew.

The most memorable moment of the show, was when Cyrano was stalling Comte de Guiche, from entering the same house that Roxane was inside. Cyrano was telling this elaborate story, and Pelt was able to emphasize the right words at the right time. Everyone was drawn to the edge of their seat, listening to this tall tale story.

This astounding play by Aliso Niguel, emphasizes how words go beyond any handsome man, and it is inside, that matters most.

Caitlin Relvas
Santa Margarita Catholic
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Aliso Niguel stands alone in "Cyrano de Bergerac"
written by Caitlin Relvas, a junior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School

Aliso Niguel High School's "Cyrano de Bergerac" exhibits a twist on love and tragedy through simplicity and ingenuity.

Set in 17th century Paris, "Cyrano de Bergerac" chronicles the distinctive hero Cyrano in his quest for independence. Since the witty Cyrano and handsome Christian both love the lovely Roxane, they apply their collective talents to win her heart.

Performing in a black box creates an intimate, interactive atmosphere, especially rewarding considering the magnitude of the play. This clever design recovers smaller theater features lost on a grander scale, such as facial expressions, and amplifies the significance of each piece.

The lighting is a golden glow for day and a blue blush for night, and in its gentleness, provides a contrast for more dramatic scenes with a single spotlight, such as the balcony scene on Roxane and the play's final moments. In both roles, the lighting increases layers to the story and emphasizes the actors.

Calculated choices on colors and styles for costumes and make-up clarify a character's identity and provide vibrant scenery. The historically accurate costumes are a window into Cyrano's world, easily exposing class differences and personalities. Comte de Guiche's lace and frill contrast with Cyrano's lack of embellishments and reveal his value of the soul. Make-up indicates a literal clue to characters, with colors carefully chosen to represent certain qualities, like silver for intelligence.

Aaron Pelt immediately establishes Cyrano's confidence with his sauntering strides and ability to convey the meaning of the lines through tone and hand gestures: sharp, brazen, and exaggerated when impassioned, and softer and gentler when with Roxane. Pelt expertly illustrates the rougher aspect of his character and inner compassionate side.

Samantha Burton's pure voice rings out with genuine honesty as Roxane. Her facial expressions not only are an open reaction to her fellow actors, but beautifully portray her thoughts; lips parted and a far-off look in her eyes as she recounts the beautiful letters from her lover, and a furrowed brow with a face full of anguish and unshed tears when Cyrano fights his final battle.

The haughty aloofness and elegance in Tyler Owings' performance as Comte de Guiche brilliantly highlights his character development in the end as he appears brotherly with relaxed posture and humbleness.

Harkening back to a bygone era of chivalry and swordplay, through efficient designs Aliso Nigel's "Cyrano" enthralls the heart and soul.