At the Liberty:Cyrano

Too self-conscious to woo Roxanne himself, wordsmith Cyrano de Bergerac (Peter Dinklage) helps young Christian (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.) nab her heart through love letters.

Sound familiar? This is the most recent of a long line of film adaptations of the 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand. The Cyranos in past films include Jose Ferrar, Steve Martin, and Tashiro Mifune. All played the part with prosthetic noses, as this was the shame Cyrano faces in the original play. Traditionally Cyrano is a French nobleman serving as a soldier. He is a talented soldier and swordsman and an eloquent poet, wit, and musician. He is always in love with Roxanne, who is in love with another soldier. And to insure her happiness, Cyrano becomes his rival's ghost writer.

In the 1989, Roxanne, Steve Martin plays Cyrano as a current day American fire chief. Mifune played the character as a samurai in the 1959 movie, Samurai Saga. Like the earlier films, the warrior poet’s nose is his weakness, (here it is widened, not lengthened). The Japanese film is one of the most unique adaptations to the classic story. The traditional story of honor and love is perfect for a samurai movie.

In Cyrano, director Joe Wright offers an adaptation that replaces the prosthetic nose and adds song. This is not the first musical version of the story, and though Dinklage is not known for his voice, his Cyrano is one of the best.

Rotten Tomatoes critics gave this an 85% favorable, and the audience scores were 86% positive. The audience summary was “Well acted and beautifully filmed, this version of the classic story is an unusual but enjoyable musical -- and Peter Dinklage is a Cyrano for the ages.”

It is rated PG-13 for some strong violence, thematic and suggestive material, and brief language. Runtime is 123 minutes, and it will show March 18-20, and on March 22.

Showtimes at the Liberty Theater are:

March 18, Friday 7:30 p.m.

March 19, Saturday 7:30 p.m.

March 20, Sunday 3:00 p.m.

March 22, Tuesday 6:30 p.m.

Use of masks continues to be required of guests, and seating is distanced between groups.

Reserved seating, purchase tickets anytime online at libertytheater.org or at the Box Office on Tuesdays and Fridays, 2-5 p.m.