The theater’s most famous nose is mentioned only twice in the new musical “Cyrano,” which opened Thursday at Off Broadway’s Daryl Roth Theatre. Presented by the New Group, Erica Schmidt’s adaptation of the Edmond Rostand classic dismisses the big schnoz as soon as Peter Dinklage says, “What woman could love me with this this” — he pauses to make a large, sweeping gesture over his body — “nose?”
There’s a novel twist on size here, since Dinklage plays the title role with no facial padding. Cyrano’s nose is supposed to be big, but it’s Dinklage’s body that is small.
So much for Schmidt and her songwriters taking any more intriguing liberties with Rostand’s story about a woman (Roxanne) who falls in love with one man’s gifted poetry (Cyrano) but clearly lusts for another man’s handsome physique (Christian).