REVIEW: Greater Boston Stage Company and Front Porch Arts Collective’s ‘The Three Musketeers’ packs action, comedy, and a contemporary twist
‘The Three Musketeers‘ stands the test of time for a reason. Full of swashbuckling adventure, revenge, humor, and romance, ‘The Three Musketeers’ has a universal appeal, a historical tale of three not-so-flawless defenders of the crown in dangerous 17th century Paris, a time where an ambush could take place at any moment.
Many different versions of this classic tale have taken over the stage and screen over the years and that is no surprise. It’s a pliable tale with lots of room for creativity.
The Greater Boston Stage Company, in collaboration with The Front Porch Arts Collective, creates a re-imagined adaptation for their final production of the season. This time, from fights to music to storyline to breaking the fourth wall, ‘The Three Musketeers’ weaves in the classic with the contemporary presenting a new twist of how this story could have played out.
Adapted by Catherine Bush from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, Greater Boston Stage Company continues ‘The Three Musketeers’ through Sunday, June 30 in Stoneham, Massachusetts. Click here for more information and tickets. Click here for more on the Front Porch Arts Collective.
The Three Musketeers cast Photo courtesy of Greater Boston Stage Company
The last time the Sleepless Critic reviewed a show featuring the Front Porch Arts Collective, it was in collaboration with the Lyric Stage Company for the critically-acclaimed musical, ‘Breath and Imagination’ back in December. It was a brilliant, dramatic piece with an incomparable performance by Davron S. Monroe as opera great Roland Hayes.
The Front Porch Arts Collective shows its lighter side with ‘The Three Musketeers.’ Though Alexandre Dumas’s novel can be a heavy read, the films and stage productions have always been an exciting romp with some adaptations better than others. The Greater Boston Stage Company weaves together a wealth of elements, including stylized action sequences, a good dose of humor, eclectic, bolder costumes, and creative casting, but stays pretty faithful to the classic storyline otherwise.
‘The Three Musketeers’ follows Marc Pierre as a fresh-faced country boy named D’Artagnan who wishes to offer his services to the disheveled, world-weary Musketeers. Pierre portrays D’Artagnan with a love struck charm, wide-eyed wonder, and transparency. He’s an easy character to root for.
Teaching the ropes. Tonasia Jones as Madame de Treville and Marc Pierre as D’Artagnan Photo courtesy of Greater Boston Stage Company
Instead of women as primarily damsels in distress, some of the damsels are the Musketeers themselves. Paige Clark as Aremis and Lyndsey Allen Cox as Athos prove they are more than up to the challenge, showing prowess and agility in their perspective roles. Cox as witty and sardonic Athos has some great lines in this show and one of the most memorable is “Love is a lottery whose prize is death.” Along with James Richardo Milord, who gives gravitas to goofy, selfish, but well-meaning Porthos, this trio has good chemistry as they embark on new adventures.
Maurice Emmanuel Parent as Cardinal Richelieu Photo courtesy of Greater Boston Stage Company
The humor is there, especially from Maurice Emmanuel Parent, the Executive Director of Front Porch Arts Collective, as dastardly Cardinal Richelieu. From his raised, mischievous eyebrow to his magnificent, resonating laugh as he occasionally lets the audience in on an elusive inside joke, he steals the show. Tonesia Jones also gives a charismatic and commanding performance as Madame de Treville. Her interaction with the Musketeers lands with drive and heart.
Margaret Clark is a spellbinding spitfire as M’Lady while J.T. Turner, wearing an eye patch, portrays shrewd and creepy Rocheford as he lurks in the shadows.
What also stands out in this production is the exciting action and stellar fight scenes, led by fight director Angie Jepson. From barrooms to the king’s court, the battles are fought valiantly with a good dose of comedy and high jinks. This show takes a lot of modern liberties in a good fight and takes a more serious turn in the second half, so like a Musketeer, be prepared for anything.
Adapted by Catherine Bush from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, Greater Boston Stage Company, in collaboration with The Front Porch Arts Collective, continues ‘The Three Musketeers’ through Sunday, June 30 at 395 Main Street in Stoneham, Massachusetts. Click here for more information and tickets and here for a closer look at Front Porch Arts Collective.
