August is here and leading streaming platforms are set to woo audiences with an impressive slate of titles. From high-profile streaming shows to much-anticipated films, the audience is going to have multiple choices at their disposal. Let’s not waste time and see what this month has in store for the audience.
Heartstopper Season 2
After the huge success of Heartstopper season 1 in 2022, Netflix is set to release the much-anticipated season two of the show on August 3. The British coming-of-age rom-com drama, which is based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel and comic book Heartstopper, stars Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao, and Yasmin Finney in pivotal roles.
Heart Of Stone
Heart of Stone is one of the most-awaited streaming releases of 2023. The film marks Bollywood star Alia Bhatt’s Hollywood debut and also stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan in principal roles. Gadot plays Rachel Stone, a female intelligence agent who is forced to serve as the organization’s last line of defence in order to preserve its most valuable asset from falling into the wrong hands. The Tom Harper directorial drops on Netflix on August 11.
Made In Heaven Season 2
Created by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, Made In Heaven was one of the most successful Hindi streaming shows of 2019. After a long wait of four years, the series returns with season two on August 10 only on Amazon Prime Video. Made In Heaven 2 features an excellent ensemble, including Sobhita Dhulipala, Arjun Mathur, Kalki Koechlin, Jim Sarbh, Shashank Arora, and Shivani Raghuvanshi, among others.
Guns And Gulaabs
Fronted by Rajkummar Rao, Dulquer Salman, Gulshan Devaiah, and Adarsh Gourav, Guns And Gulaabs has piqued audiences’ interest with its posters. The makers are yet to announce the official release date for the series, but everyone is waiting for it with bated breath. The series is created by Raj & DK and will premiere on Netflix.
The Hunt for Veerappan
Directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, The Hunt for Veerappan is a docuseries that chronicles the tale of the 17-year manhunt for the infamous Indian smuggler and bandit Veerappan. The documentary will delve into the crimes he committed, the special operation launched to kill him, and firsthand accounts from people close to the criminal. It drops on Netflix on 4 August.
Adrian Lester, best known for his work on television and film, returns to the stage in the eponymous role of Edmond Rostand's 1898 comedy, Cyrano de Bergerac.
Rostland’s play centres around Cyrano - a little-known romantic 17th century French libertine poet, soldier, and philosopher. The play is based partly on his letters written on behalf of love rival Christian de Neuvillette as he tries to charm Cyrano’s cousin, Roxanne with whom Cyrano is also in love.
Cyrano is cursed with an overt self-consciousness in the form of a large nose. His insecurity is such that he prohibits anyone to refer to it directly or indirectly. Together with his wit, his skills as a swordsman, and the directorial splattering of our own vernacular, they provide the play with a certain infectious - albeit teenage - humour.
Despite Cyrano unexpressed love for Roxanne, the latter has fallen for Christian who is handsome, but useless when it comes to expressing his feelings in words. But then, he is also useless as a swordsman and clearly no match for Cyrano’s mastery and maturity. Realising this and being utterly selfless, Cyrano offers his help to the youthful Christian to woo Roxanne by writing for him poetic and hyperbolic proclamations of love and longing. All he wants is Roxanne to be happy even if he himself has to do with nursing a broken heart.
Christian Patterson and Levi BrownMarc Brenner
The result is a farce of the highest order and mistaken identity, coupled with threat and violence
This RSC production is directed by Simon Evans who has provided a very lively and engaging interpretation by all accounts. Apart from a skilled, highly polished ensemble of cast, there’s interesting theatricality at work. Every now and then, for instance, one gets a sense that the stage is a reflection of our own world and vice versa. Characters mingle with the audience, they break the fourth wall, and the theatre band wander around with the characters and referred to with some bemusement and fun.
In a 17th century French world – not unlike our own, 21st century – external beauty, speech, language are prized. Expression has become almost secondary. It’s a world in which fakery, deception and lies are paced above sincerity, honesty, and truth. Looks and external beauty outweigh the inner beauty of man.
Evans removes the original piece from its French setting to England, littering it with a Brummie accent, and accentuating our preconceptions about hopeless romantics and those with meaningless verbiage. The effect is one of joyous atmosphere and true entertainment.
Adrian Lester provides a magnificent performance as the wordsmith, Cyrano. His character is verbose, comedic, and sympathetic in equal measures. Lester is enticing, hilarious and – judging by the reaction of the audience –appreciated as a versatile actor who can do comedy just as well as drama. Levi Brown’s Christian is a fiery - overtly hopeless - romantic who cannot paint his feelings into words. Brown gives a very energetic and magnetic performance. Similarly, Susannah Fielding provides a sprightly Roxanne who is heart-warming and an utter pleasure to watch.
Adrian Lester (front right) and companyMarc Brenner
It’s hard not to notice but as an audience, we are invited to consider the value of language that may sound romantic, but may – in actual fact – be little more than a shallow expression of fancy. Whereas, the seemingly absence of language – though painfully inadequate - may actually embody real sincerity and the true meaning of love.
Whatever you may think, one thing is certain: you will enjoy this production. It’s a real treat.
The play started at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in early September, with its run lasting until 15th November.
Rating: ***** (5 stars)
(Cyrano de Bergerac is playing at the RSC Stratford until 15th November 2025.)
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