Fast-Paced Visit With ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’

“I will get even on the battlefield, mano a mano.”

“What if he is, in short, estupido?”

“B-o-r-r-r-ing. . . . “

“There’s good news and bad news. First the good news. . . . “

“Is it a locker to hold school supplies? Is it a water slide?”

As you may gather from the foregoing quotes--the latter referring to a certain renowned nose--the East Los Angeles Classic Theatre company’s much-abbreviated version of Edmond Rostand’s “Cyrano de Bergerac,” playing outdoors at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, is a rather loose adaptation of that lyrical classic.

There are worse ways to spend an hour or so on a summer morning than watching live theater in the Ford’s picturesque canyon surroundings. And this theater company is unquestionably eager to please. But the result of director Tonyo Melendez and co-adapter Bert Rosario’s effort to appeal to children and their families is a broad-brush, often burlesque approach. It keeps things moving at a fast clip, but retains only a hint of the original’s depth of content and character.

Overly contemporized ballads by composer Rita Ortez-Provost and lyricist Arturo Mesquite fit a familiar sound. Based on Spanish folk songs, they are Disney-style pretty (“You are the music of my heart”) and wince-making (“We are Spanish with all that Latin charm; simple fellows who mean no harm”).

Melendez and Rosario have moved the play forward in time to the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath, with Cyrano and cohorts clad in khaki and jet-black military uniforms and berets (courtesy of costume designer Diane Sisko). They carry rifles, although there is ample swordplay. The dialogue’s aforementioned contemporary references contradict that sense of time and place, however.

Meanwhile, the cast--mostly experienced professionals, with some youth actors and child volunteers from the audience--romps with much mugging and unflagging enthusiasm through the action (some of which takes place in the audience). They adopt a sober mien, however, for the play’s romantically tragic resolution.

Daniel Chacon’s doomed Christian is callow, and lovely Christine Steel’s Roxana is crisp; indeed, all of the actors, including Denise Blasor as Roxana’s clownish, pastry-crazed duenna and the TV veteran Henry Darrow’s villainous De Guiche, hit the obvious notes.

Within the surface-skimming framework of this production, it’s difficult even for the show’s Cyrano, Robert Mammana, an accomplished actor with a long list of Broadway and regional credits, to infuse much subtlety into the proceedings, although his vivid stage presence hints that he’s capable of it. (Mammana plays Cyrano at all performances; many of the other roles are double cast.)

* “Cyrano de Bergerac,” John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. $7. (323) 461-3673.

Arts and Crafts Expeditions: Children and adults are encouraged to tap into their creative side in Friends of the Junior Arts Center’s continuing free “Sunday Open Sunday” series of arts and crafts held at various venues throughout the Los Angeles area.

This Sunday, learn about ancient Mayan culture with artist Lonny Sotelo, who will guide you through the creation of “Mayan Pictoglyphs,” using Mayan ideograms, symbols and color patterns.

On July 9, drummer Joe Addington and Trio Ache will take participants on a musical adventure in an “Afro-Cuban Drumming Workshop,” and artist Howard Marshall will be “Exploring Africa and Beyond” in a workshop in traditional African mask-making on July 23. All art supplies are provided.

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“Sunday Open Sunday”: “Mayan Pictoglyphs,” F.A.C.E.S. South Los Angeles Youth and Family Center, 3800 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. (213) 763-5036; “Afro-Cuban Drumming Workshop,” Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center, 2225 Colorado Blvd., July 9, 2 to 4 p.m. (323) 226-1617; “Exploring Africa and Beyond,” the Blazers, 1517 W. 48th St., Los Angeles, July 23, 2 to 4 p.m. (323) 292-2261.