A scene from Cyrano de Bergerac Photo:Courtesy of National Centre for the Performing Arts

A recent play jokes that the nose of its main character is so big, it always arrives 15 minutes before he does. From this joke alone, most Chinese audiences are able to recognize that the play is about the world-renowned Cyrano de Bergerac.

From August 13-15, the French hero's story was presented in Beijing as part of the 2015 Nation Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) International Theater Season. However, while most would expect the play to be in French, in keeping with the origins of the main character, it was actually presented in Hebrew by Israel's Cameri Theatre troupe.

The play's story focuses on Cyrano, a gentle, poetic and talented individual that is wresting with confidence issues because of his overly large nose. Unable to express his love for the beautiful Roxane, Cyrano hides behind his handsome comrade Christian, who Cyrano helps pursue Roxane by writing love letters to her in Christian's name. Feeling that his appearance makes him unworthy of Roxane's love, Cyrano keeps his affection for her buried deep in his heart even after Christian dies in a war. Although Roxane eventually discovers that it was Cyrano who had written all the letters from Christian and realizes that it is Cyrano that she loves, the long-nosed hero is mortally injured in an accident. Eventually the hero passes away and is kept from his true love. 

Although a play, there really was a real Cyrano de Bergerac. A French novelist and playwright who lived from 1619 to 1655, Edmond Rostand wrote a play based on his life in 1897. Since then Cyrano's doomed romance has been adapted into a number of films, musicals and other mediums. When the 1990 movie by French director Jean-Paul Rappeneau was broadcast on CCTV in China, it immediately became a huge hit among Chinese audiences for its dialogue and captivating plot.

Differing from the movie version, which closely followed historical details and setting, the stage setting for the play is simple and clean giving the play a distinctly modern feel.

The play won Best Director, Best Production and Best Actor awards in Israel after its world premiere in 2013.

According to Noam Semel, director general of the Cameri Theatre, the play is not merely a romantic tragedy, but also a poetic masterpiece. He added that the inclusion of comedic elements also makes the play closer to Greek-styled dramas, while the choice to perform in Hebrew gives the play a lighter tone as it deals with heavy topics such as love and death.

While this is the troupe's second time in China as a guest of the NCPA, the Cameri Theatre troupe is no stranger to the country. The troupe previously impressed Chinese audiences with their Bible-based play Requiem, written and directed by legendary director Hanoch Levin. Adapted from three works by Anton Chekhov, the play received high praise from Chinese critics, who described it as an excellent play with "clever stage setting and music that is at times mild and other times quick."

Since the Requiem's debut in China in 2004, the troupe has been invited back on three other occasions to perform the play.

Additionally the troupe has performed Shakespear's Hamlet in Shanghai in 2009 and another play in Beijing in 2013.

According to Semel, Requim's success in China was originally a great surprise and they were happy to see that Chinese audiences could understand and appreciate a play performed in Hebrew. This success drove the troupe's desire to return to continue to bring their work to the country.