By Katie Scarvey
kscarvey@salisburypost.com
Many people got to know the charming character of Cyrano de Bergerac through the 1987 Steve Martin movie “Roxanne.”
You remember, the guy with the big nose and the big heart who helps his tongue-tied friend Christian woo the woman with whom they’re both in love?
In the upcoming Piedmont Players Theatre production of “Cyrano de Bergerac,” the magnetic Cyrano is played by newcomer Michael Weaver. A resident of Hilton Head, Weaver is in Salisbury on business, working with James Meacham, the executive director of the county tourism authority. Before moving to South Carolina, Weaver spent many years in the advertising business in New York, working for the likes of Donnie Deutsch.
But what he’s selling here is Cyrano, who’s selling Christian.
“I’ve never known a character I’ve admired as much as this guy,” Weaver says. “He’s such a complete man.” Indeed, Cyrano is a gifted duelist, a poet and a musician.
During the period, things like love and beauty were almost like a religion, Weaver says. Since Cyrano feels cut off from those things because of his physical appearance, he’s a man on a lonely journey.
Weaver remembers seeing the 1950 film ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ with Jose Ferrer when he was only 5 years old. It made a huge impact on him, he says.
PPT was fortunate to snag Jonathan Elliott Coarsey to play Comte de Guiche, who happened to be free for a short while before his next role — he’s been cast as the title role in “Floyd Collins: The Musical,” which opens April 12 at the Carolina Artist Studio Theatre in Charlotte.
Tickets go on sale Monday, Feb. 6.
Show dates are February 9-11 and 15-18 at 7:30 p.m. and February 12 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors.
The Meroney Theater is located at 213 S. Main St. Call 704-633-5471 for tickets or visit www.piedmontplayers.com