Beautiful beak

The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre's production of Cyrano de Bergerac, opening its season, brings to life Edmond Rostand's 1897 adaptation of the 17th-century French nobleman. French readers, including playwright Edmond Rostand, were first reintroduced to Cyrano in the 1844 book Les Grotesques. French poet Théophile Gautier famously described Cyrano's nose as less doughy and more heroic, with almond-shaped dark eyes and slender yet distinct eyebrows.

Despite his beautiful features, Cyrano's crippling insecurity stems from his large nose, which he believes prevents him from being loved. Actor Jack Davidson, who plays Cyrano, notes that the nose prosthesis he wears is relatively quick and easy to apply, taking around 10 minutes per use. Director Amanda Goldberg spent months discussing the nose's design with her costume designer, aiming for a naturalistic appearance that doesn't dominate the stage.

The play is ultimately a tale of self-regard and how one's perception of their own worth can be shaped by societal judgments, even down to the most superficial aspects like a nose.