István Tasnádi’s drama Cyber Cyrano, which was written over ten years ago and is now more relevant than ever, indicates through its title that although it is based on a several hundred year-old story, it deals with the dangers posed by today’s internet-focused world and virtual communication. The 17th-century character of Cyrano de Bergerac’s issues with himself—his feelings of inferiority—are projected onto one of the protagonists, Zsuzsi, who, similar to Rostand’s hero, tries to cope with the pain of rejection with the use of a comparable solution.
However, compared to the cities Cyrano visited, the settings of Tasnádi’s play, with its impersonal and fluid nature of the virtual space, further intensifies the uncertainty of young people searching for a way to connect with themselves and each other. At first glance, it may seem as a refuge from daunting challenges, but in reality is a dangerous labyrinth filled with distorted mirrors. The major lesson of Cyber Cyrano, a youth drama aimed at upper elementary and high school students and based on a true story, is that fleeing from life’s challenges and choosing the easier way out can lead to losing oneself.
Director: Péter Tasnádi-Sáhy
