Cause he’s Deng-rano!
Like Giacomo Casanova, the writer, poet and libertine Cyrano de Bergerac (Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac, 1619-1655) is today more remembered for his personal life that for his literary works (especially: L’autre monde: Histoire comiqué des Estats et empires de la Lune & Histoire comiqué des Estats et empires du Soleil, 1657, 1662 [Comical History of the States and Empires of the Moon and the Sun]).
The reason of this is mainly due to the work of his compatriot playwright Edmond Rostand and his play Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), that was successful immediately and is today the work more important of Rostand. The play divided in V acts and inspired precisely in the life of Bergerac, talk about the love of Cyrano for his cousin Roxane, who is in love at the same time of the cadet Christian de Neuvilette.
Cyrano, who have a big talent for make poems and is a good duelist, have a BIG problem: his nose.
“Tis enormous!
Old Flathead, empty-headed meddler, know
That I am proud, possessing such appendice.
‘Tis well know, a big nose is indicative
Of a soul affable, and kind, and courteous,
Leberal, brave, just like myself, and such
As you can never dare to dream yourself”
(Cyrano de Bergerac, I)
The witty way with which Cyrano defends his nose is just a playful mode for hide the insecurity that the character feels about his physical appearance. This, plus a misunderstood between Cyrano and Roxane, results in Cyrano and Christian (who is handsome like Cyrano is witty) united forces to make Roxane fall more in love. The design is successful. Even if she was in love of Christian for his appearance, Roxane love absolutely the soul of that Christian that wrote for she such precious love letters. Nevertheless, Cyrano and Christian, like soldiers, must go to the war with Spain, where…
(I leave you a link so you can read the play yourself. It’s very interesting. The book is highly recommended.)
The play was staging on 28 December 1897 and since then has touched the public with the dramatic, funny and tragic of this seemingly unrequited loves. Of course, the character most loved is Cyrano and the versions of this play have shown great effort for display all the charm and witty of him.
And Cyrano: The Musical is a proof. It was created by Koen van Dijk and Ad van Dijk in Dutch, in 1992. After a year, Broadway make the English version, directed for Eddy Habbema. The version in Korean started his planning on 2016 for the company CJ Musical.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYDwSeRGOW8
The 23 April, for SNS Musical Cyrano announced the cast that would represent for this endearing story. The actors that performances Cyrano are Ryu Junghan, Hong Kwangho and Kim Dongwan.
This last, singer and actor, Shinhwa’s member, Dongwan, a witty guy for a witty poet, had announced previously his participation in the musical through his personal account of Facebook (Dongwan Kim).
(Interview to Dengrado EngSubs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEftLgnIBWg)
The musical started the 7th July 2017 and his last performance will be the 10th October 2017 in the LG Arts Center. Thanks to this musical, Shinhwa Changjo have been able to see Dongwan (lovingly nicknamed Deng-rado) in various interviews in Vlive (Naver)
http://www.vlive.tv/video/31979?channelCode=FAD8B
http://www.vlive.tv/video/32305?channelCode=FAD8B
http://www.vlive.tv/video/32509?channelCode=FAD8B
(More in: http://channels.vlive.tv/FAD8B/video)
And for see a little view of the performance we have:
http://www.vlive.tv/video/37670?channelCode=EDE229
We can see him too in radio and tv shows (SBS Power FM: CULTWO SHOW, Love Game, Choi Hwa-jung’s power time, Morning Wide, and others).
Plus, Kim Dongwan shared with us his skills of photographer, that we know how much he likes.
Of course, the feedbacks from Shinhwa Changjo and not only are very flattering, so if you can, go to see him in this latest presentation. And, if you remain for the after show, surely will can see Dengrano with all his witty and handsome (like a sum of Cyrano and Chrisitan).
Anyway, the truth is that not matter the number of versions of this play of the works inspired in the life of Bergerac, we only can see him a little of his real him in his novels and plays. But I’m sure that he would be pride of be portrayed by this talented and witty guy.
Book Cyrano de Bergerac: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1254
(The credits of all the pics are for @cyrano_musical, that give the credits at the same way, and the credit videos are for Vlive and the owners in YouTube. Like always: if you see some mistake, tell me for fix it! Thank you so much for reading. In other hand, sorry for make this post only now. I regret too for not talk more of Dengrado, but I see that there is a lot of info about, so I want to show you a little of the play. I hope that I called your attention not only for the work of Rostdand, but too for Cyrano, so we can have another view of him. I hope you can see Dengrado performance!!)