Podcast Summary: Más de uno - Radioficción, Episodio 25: "Entrevista a Cyrano de Bergerac"

Podcast: Más de uno
Host: Carlos Alsina (Onda Cero)
Date: 26 February 2026
Location: Teatro Luis del Olmo (Radioficción, con público en vivo)

Overview of the Episode

This episode of "Radioficción" immerses listeners in a meta-theatrical, comedic setting where the blending of fact, fiction, and radio play comes alive. Carlos Alsina hosts a live session anticipating a cultural interview with Edmond Rostand (author of "Cyrano de Bergerac"), only to be interrupted—literally—by none other than Cyrano himself, in character. The show tackles themes of beauty, ugliness, and caricature in literature and theatre, all wrapped in quick-witted banter, parody, and audience interaction.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: School Excursion Mayhem

• The episode opens with whimsical chaos as a school group from Colegio Joaquín Pisuerga arrives, notorious for previous mischief.
• Staff humorously complain about their reputation and broken vases, setting a farcical tone.
• [01:20] Profesora: "Nos tienen vetados en la fábrica de refrescos, en el Museo del Prado, hasta en el zoo. Es que son terribles los niños estos. A mí es que me tienen muy harta. Estoy buscando trabajo en otro lado..."

2. Carlos Alsina Warms Up the Audience

• Alsina welcomes everyone and playfully warns the children to behave.
• Jokes about damage to theatre property and the need to charge for broken vases.
• [03:41] Carlos Alsina: "Los jarrones que han roto... Se los vamos a cobrar uno por uno. Que lo sepa, señorita."

3. Sergio del Molino Prepares for His Guest

• Sergio, melancholic after losing a valuable fencing foil borrowed from a French museum, jokes about missing items backstage—a running gag.
• The loss of the prop segues into a discussion about how serious thefts keep occurring in the theatre.
• [05:29] Carlos Alsina: "Que el ladrón que deje ya de hurtar cosas de los camerinos. Que hable con nosotros, que nos diga qué es lo que quiere, pero que se detenga, porque si no es que así no podemos continuar."

4. Humorous Interlude: Calvos y 'Daddy Core'

• Sergio references a previous program's discussion on bald actors and evolving beauty standards in cinema.
• Excerpts from "la cultureta" highlight the disappearance of "ugly" or "ordinary-looking" movie stars in favor of conventionally attractive ones (and the rise of "daddy core").
• [07:56] Colaborador: "Ha muerto la estética de padre, el daddy core, o sea, han muerto los act. que no tienen la necesidad ni tampoco la pretenden estar buenos..."

5. Entrance of Cyrano de Bergerac

• An unexpected disruption: Cyrano appears from the audience, indignant at being maligned by his author, Rostand.
• He vehemently objects to being caricatured, particularly the legendary nose.
• The hosts react: surprise gives way to playful interrogation and theatrical debate.
• [09:52] Cyrano: "A mí no me echa nadie atrás. Cobardes. Mosquetero. Soy el mejor espadachín del reino. Si osáis tocarme, probaréis mi fierro."

6. Cyrano’s Complaint: The Tyranny of Caricature

• Cyrano voices his resentment toward Rostand, claiming that the grotesque nose reduces his story to farce rather than tragedy and universal reflection.
• He argues that if his portrayal were less exaggerated, audiences would relate more to his unfulfilled love rather than mock his appearance.
• [14:01] Cyrano: "Esta nariz es un despropósito, una caricatura que echa a perder toda la obra... Feos hay muchos, y formas de fealdad infinitas. Pero podría haber armonizado un poco los rasgos."
• [14:52] Cyrano: "Como soy una caricatura, el público se ríe y llora un poco cuando me muero... Pero cree que la historia no va con ellos. Si yo fuera menos grotesco, los espectadores entenderían que mi historia... no es tan rara, ni se aparta demasiado de sus vidas. El mito de Cyrano... es puro acoso. ¿Cómo lo llaman ahora? Bullying."

7. Meta-Theatrical Reflection and Planned Re-Enactment

• Sergio and Alsina propose, tongue-in-cheek, to "travel" and witness the creation of Cyrano as a character—to verify if the accusation against Rostand stands.
• The segment ends with a promise to stage the story of how Cyrano was 'born' as a literary figure after the intermission.
• [16:03] Carlos Alsina: "Bueno, pues es una idea para ser tuya. La verdad es que es bastante buena idea."
• [16:23] Carlos Alsina: "Vamos a... representar sobre este escenario... el origen de Cyrano de Bergerac."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• School Chaos & Teacher's Lament
  "Nos tienen vetados en la fábrica de refrescos, en el Museo del Prado, hasta en el zoo..." — Profesora [01:20]
• Alsina About Broken Vases:
  "Se los vamos a cobrar uno por uno. Que lo sepa, señorita." — Carlos Alsina [03:41]
• Cultural Critique:
  "Ha muerto la estética de padre, el daddy core... han muerto los act. que no tienen la necesidad ni tampoco la pretenden estar buenos." — Colaborador [07:56]
• Cyrano’s Defiant Entrance:
  "A mí no me echa nadie atrás. Cobardes. Mosquetero. Soy el mejor espadachín del reino." — Cyrano [09:52]
• Cyrano on Caricature:
  "Esta nariz es un despropósito, una caricatura que echa a perder toda la obra..." — Cyrano [14:01]
• Cyrano on Bullying:
  "El mito de Cyrano... es puro acoso. ¿Cómo lo llaman ahora? Bullying." — Cyrano [15:21]
• Meta-theatre Invitation:
  "Vamos a... representar sobre este escenario... el origen de Cyrano de Bergerac." — Carlos Alsina [16:23]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [00:28–02:09] — School excursion and chaos introduction
• [03:36] — Alsina cracks down on the children's antics
• [04:31–05:53] — Sergio’s missing prop and banter about theft
• [07:00–08:19] — Discussion on standards of beauty in theatre and film
• [09:17–10:02] — Cyrano disrupts the program, demanding justice
• [13:19–14:52] — Cyrano’s grievances about being caricatured
• [16:21–16:52] — Plan for meta-theatrical re-enactment of Cyrano's creation

Episode Style and Tone

• Language: Highly humorous, satirical, and theatrical—fully embracing the traditions of radio drama and meta-narrative.
• Atmosphere: Whimsical, irreverent, and playful, with abundant asides to both the live audience and listeners.
• Speaker Dynamics: Rapid-fire banter between hosts and "invited" characters; frequent breaking of the fourth wall.

For Listeners

This episode offers a comic, insightful, and theatrical exploration of classical literature’s most “grotesque” romantic hero, mixing parody, literary criticism, and meta-commentary in a style that both entertains and provokes reflection. Through rapid character shifts and playful banter, it ultimately challenges how audiences engage with beauty, caricature, and empathy in the arts.

Note: The episode cuts to an intermission before the promised re-enactment of Cyrano's literary "birth," ensuring listeners are left in playful suspense.