Cyrano de Bergerac

The play Cyrano de Bergerac inspired Roxanne, that movie featuring Steve Martin with a really big nose. The original work is a more tragic tale about Cyrano, a gifted soldier with the same, um, schnoz. The only thing bigger than his beak is his love for Roxane (who also happens to be his cousin). But it's not family ties that's keeping Cyrano's love interest at bay; his huge honker pushes her - figuratively - into the arms of Christian, a fellow soldier. Christian has a lot going on outside, but nothing's really happening upstairs, so he looks to Cyrano to pen love letters to Roxane. The ruse works. She falls deeply in love with Christian...but will her feelings change when she finds out who the real wordsmith is? And if she does, will it be too late? Unlike its Hollywood counterpart, the Alley Theatre's production of Cyrano de Bergerac isn't filled with cheesy nose jokes. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Through November 3. 615 Texas. For information, call 713-220-5700 or visit www.alleytheatre.org. $21 to $67.
Tuesdays-Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2:30 & 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2:30 & 7:30 p.m. Starts: Oct. 8. Continues through Nov. 2, 2008