Peter Dinklage Takes On Cyrano. What Would Cersei Think?

Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister — one of the most popular characters on HBO’s hit fantasy series Game of Thrones — is taking on another fascinating character with physical challenges: Cyrano.

Dinklage, 49, stars in Cyrano, the new musical that his wife Erica Schmidt is directing at Goodspeed Musicals’ Norma Terris Theatre in Chester from her adaptation based on Edmond Rostand’s play Cyrano de Bergerac. Also starring Haley Bennett (The Girl on the Train, The Magnificent Seven) as Roxanne, the play is a “developmental production” (meaning not ready for critics) and runs Aug. 3 to Sept. 9.

For this production, it;'s not about the nose.

But Dinklage’s new role got me to thinking that Cyrano and Tyrion have a lot in common. So here’s my checklist for GoT fans who might be enticed to go to the theater to see one of America’s top classical actors show his panache: 

Both are mocked with derogatory names due to their unusual physical traits (Dinklage has dwarfism and Cyrano is known for an extremely large nose). Both use their wit and love of language. Both indulge in a good deal of wine and merriment. Both are poets at heart. Both use their physical imperfections to be underestimated by many, gaining advantages.

Differences? One sings, the other hangs with dragons.

(After the August issue went to press, Goodspeed announced that they were extending production onCyrano until Sept. 9. This article has been updated to reflect the change.)