Cyrano de Bergerac

Syrano de Bergerac, the Parisian poet, satirist, wit, and duelist, is known as a fearless opponent. He has no equal either on the battlefield or in poetic contests. Only one thing bothers Syrano: he considers his enormous nose an unbearable ugly monstrosity.

One word—“nose”—is enough for him to challenge his interlocutor to a duel. Provoked by the Vicount de Valvère, who said that Syrano’s nose is “quite large,” the poet delivers a tirade about noses and calls his offender to a duel. During it, Syrano composes a ballad about the duel and then wounds the vicount.

Because of his “physical flaw,” he is afraid to open up about his love for his cousin Roxane. The first four acts take place in 1640, and the fifth in 1655.