The Three Musketeers: Dumas, adapted Prendergast: Haymarket Basingstoke to Janua
The Three Musketeers
by Alexandre Dumas adapted by Sean Prendergast, additional material by Bill Hobbs; original music by Christopher Dickins.
Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke, 5th December 2003 to 10th January 2004.
Times vary.
Runs 2 hours 05 minutes: One Interval
Tickets 01256 465566: www.haymarket.org.uk
Review Mark Courtice: 7th January 2004
Pleasure for all in this new adaptation.
Dramatisations of The Three Musketeers can either end up being very long, or seeming so through a series of interminable fights and flights. Sean Prendergast's new version manages to avoid these fates. It does however occasionally fall victim to the need to get a lot of plot across very quickly.
Alasdair Ramsey's good natured production seizes on the moments for fun (of which there could be more) and relies a lot on the energy, focus and talent of his cast, mostly from the resident company.
They repay his confidence, tackling Christopher Dickens' accordion flavoured, French-accented score with good musical skills and strong singing. The fights (by Paul Benzing) are excellent; fast, witty and bustling, and are well served by their physical skills. Perhaps there was one too many, but in most versions of this story there are many more than that.
The characters, after an all-action start, define themselves satisfactorily as the company get their teeth into them. Phoebe Soteriades as Lady De Winter has real depth and is genuinely glamorous as well as evil. The musketeers themselves are people, not just jolly stereotypes, ending up realising that some fights are not just fought with swords, and that bluster is not always enough.
The production pushes along at a fine pace. Ramsay keeps a firm hand on timing and tone, so there are few dull moments. Indeed there are times when a less headlong approach would give us time to appreciate the more emotional moments.
Elroy Ashmore's design is rough hewn and solid, providing lots of room for swashbuckling, and a large revolve in the centre of the stage provides essential movement, responding to the energy of the production and helping us to keep up with D'Artagnan's travels. Director and designer deal with the inevitable journeys on horse back (for example) with wit and economy of means. The costumes are elegant and luxurious when they need to be.
Satisfactorily energetic and noisy but not afraid of emotion, this new version of a classic often seen as more fun for boys than girls will give great pleasure to all.
Porthos: Toby Gaffney
Athos: Matthew Rixon
Aramis: Christopher Dickins
Planchet: Alan Blyton
Jussac/King: Pieter Lawman
D'Artagnan: Oliver Boot
Rochefort/De Treville: Tom Bevan
Milady: Phoebe Soteriades
Constance: Catrin Aaron
Queen/Kitty: Kate Doherty
Richelieu/Buckingham: Ron Meadows
Servants and Thugs: Ian Pink
Musician: Alice Bartlett
Director: Alasdair Ramsay
Designer: Elroy Ashmore
Musical Director/Composer: Christopher Dickins
Choreographer: Karen Rabinowitz
Fight Director: Paul Benzing
Lighting Design: Simon Hutchings
2004-01-12 20:47:56