His last play was a fusty thing called “The Distant Princess” that starred iconic stage actress Sarah Bernhardt (Clémentine Célarié, enjoyably grand) and quickly tanked. Meantime, his rival, the farcical playwright Georges Feydeau (Michalik), is the toast of the town — something of which he’s happy to remind Rostand. loosely based on the adventures of 17th century French writer Cyrano de Bergerac. All that’s needed is, uh, the play, which Rostand ends up frantically writing as rehearsals barrel along. It’s no spoiler to report that Rostand’s work proves a smash: The actual opening night show famously received a two-hour standing ovation.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 17, 2019 15:22 UTC