SCENE 1.II.

In the bustling atmosphere of a Parisian theater, the audience gathers, showcasing a mix of the city’s finest, from the nobility to the distinguished roués. As the crowd settles and conversations weave through the air, Christian de Neuvillette anxiously scans the boxes, his attention divided between the gathering and his task at hand—to find and adore from afar the lady for whom his heart beats fervently. With his newly made acquaintance, Ligniere, a man of both wit and wine, Christian navigates the social landscape, his eyes ultimately finding the one he seeks, Roxane, radiant and unapproachable in her box. Ligniere, indulging in his preferred vices yet serving as a crucial link to Christian’s pursuit of love, introduces the notion of Cyrano de Bergerac—a figure both noble and notorious, whose reputation precedes him in duels as much as in poetry.

As discussions ebb and flow, from the trivial to the grand, the anticipation for the night’s play intersects with the anticipation of Cyrano’s possible appearance, igniting curiosity and concern among the guests. Cyrano, known for his unparalleled skill in swordsmanship and his uniquely prominent nose, commands both respect and mockery, a contradiction embodied by the varying opinions of those around him. The stage is set not only for the actors but for the unfolding drama of personal aspirations and social expectations, with Christian torn between his admiration for Roxane and his self-doubt, Ligniere’s carefree pleasures, and the looming presence of Cyrano—each character entwined in a narrative that promises love, conflict, and the quest for identity in the heart of 17th century Paris.