`Cyrano’ production hits right on the nose

ORONO – “I was everything and nothing,” says a dying Cyrano de Bergerac to his love, Roxanne.

The same could be said of Aquila Theatre Company’s production of Edmond Rostand’s classic play Sunday afternoon at the Maine Center for the Arts.

The “everything” was there – strong acting, raucous humor and over-the-top costumes like Roxanne’s lacy hoop-skirt confection that could have been something out of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” days.

But the “nothing” reined it in – a spare set, smallish cast and a wry interpretation that tempered the play’s sappier tendencies.

That’s not to say there were many dry eyes in the house, which was about half full, at the end.

In the story, the poetic swordsman Cyrano (Anthony Cochrane) is in love with his cousin Roxanne (Lisa Carter), which was not frowned upon back in 17th century France.

Cyrano, however, has a huge nose. Not just big, but big enough to hang your coat on. Thus, he thinks he has no chance, so he keeps his love to himself.

Roxanne, meanwhile, is smitten with the handsome but not-so-eloquent Christian de Neuvillette (Alvaro Heinig), the newest member of the Gascon Cadets, Cyrano’s regiment. Cyrano offers his poetic services to Christian to help him woo her, and Christian marries Roxanne.

Through all this, Cyrano remains silent about his love for Roxanne – even after Christian dies in battle.

Until his own death looms.

Aquila Theatre Company, once based solely in London and now the professional company in residence at New York University’s Center for Ancient Studies, is known for its avant-garde renditions.

This production was slick, not stodgy, with a contemporary edge: It’s hard to imagine the cadets sticking up their middle fingers at a blue-haired character in the original. And it worked.

Their set was spartan, though an overdose of smoke and too-loud music made up for the lack of spectacle. As did the actors throwing bagels into the audience.

In the opening act, puppets made the 16-person cast seem like a crowd. A vendor serving snacks from a Carmen Miranda-style hat was a riot.

And Carter’s Roxanne was beautiful and sweet enough to make the swordsmen swoon.