Cyrano story guide

ACT I  |  ACT II  |  ACT III

Scene 1
The Hôtel de Bourgogne, Paris, 1640
An audience gathers to see Montfleury, an actor, perform. Among the people is Christian de Neuvillette, a new recruit to the Gascon Cadets, who has fallen in love with the Lady Roxane, cousin to Cyrano de Bergerac. Roxane's guardian, the Comte de Guiche, plans to wed her himself. Cyrano has forbidden Montfleury to perform for a month, and when he appears, Cyrano, much to the anger of the crowd, chases him from the stage. The Viscomte de Valvert, aided by De Guiche, challenges him to a duel, an offer Cyrano disdains until Valvert ridicules his nose. The crowd, appeased by Cyranos's skilful dispatching of the Viscomte, leaves. Cyrano confides to his fellow Cadet, Le Bret, that he loves Roxane but fears his suit hopeless because of his huge nose. However, Roxane's duenna arrives with a message asking Cyrano to meet his cousin the next morning at Ragueneau's bakery. His hopes are rekindled, so much so that when a band of a hundred men appears, sent by De Guiche to avenge Valvert, he defeats them all single-handed.

Scene 2
Ragueneau's bakery, the next morning
Ragueneau, master baker and poet, welcomes Cyrano, who, waiting impatiently for Roxane, writes a poem declaring his love for her. Roxane arrives and informs Cyrano that she loves Christian and she asks her cousin to deliver a letter to him. Cyrano, hiding his despair, agrees. The Cadets arrive to celebrate Cyrano's victory of the previous evening, and while Le Bret consoles Cyrano, they playfully rag Christian as their newest member. Cyrano is persuaded to recount his duel but is constantly interrupted by Christian, who, wishing to assert himself, mocks Cyrano's nose. The Cadets flee, anticipating a blood bath, but Cyrano merely delivers Roxane's letter. Christian confesses he can neither read nor write, and so Cyrano reads the letter to him. Christian is overjoyed and Cyrano reluctantly agrees to write to Roxane on his behalf.