TOPANGA, Calif.—Grab your musket (or your wallet) and join The Three Musketeers, a play with witty dialogue, sharp twists, multilayered characters, and a surprisingly modern and relevant plot. The 49-member repertory cast of the outdoor Theatricum Botanicum features a diverse group of up-and-comers as well as veterans of all ages performing their roles in this adapted classic to a tee.
The Three Musketeers follows youthful and virile d’Artagnan, who sets out from his farmland homestead toward Paris with a dream to join the famed royal guard known as the Musketeers. His shortcut to gain entry into the elite group is a handwritten note from his father signed for their captain.
Unfortunately for d’Artagnan, he loses the note in a rough encounter with the cardinal’s best man. Without this note, yet still set on his path to become a Musketeer, d’Artagnan must now prove his worth as a warrior, a lover, and a man.
All of the actors stand out in their own unique ways, but Melora Marshall, who plays the Musketeer named Aramis, nailed her role. Her portrayal of a royal guard sworn to uphold his martial duty, in conflict with biblical teachings learned in a prior life, encapsulate the inner and external struggle of the time.
In one particular moment, for example, during the Siege of La Rochelle, the Musketeers are led into temporary service of the Catholic cardinal, who uses force to eliminate a village of another faith. Should Aramis follow his biblical teachings, uphold his duty to the king of France, or follow the cardinal? Can he be responsible to everyone, including himself?
Aramis’s internal conflict is not even the focal point of the moment, but we cannot help but wonder what the people of the time must have felt amidst such suffering. And in other scenes, it is impossible not to laugh alongside Aramis as he bounces between his on-again and off-again relationship with God.
The Three Musketeers follows youthful and virile d’Artagnan, who sets out from his farmland homestead toward Paris with a dream to join the famed royal guard known as the Musketeers. His shortcut to gain entry into the elite group is a handwritten note from his father signed for their captain.
Unfortunately for d’Artagnan, he loses the note in a rough encounter with the cardinal’s best man. Without this note, yet still set on his path to become a Musketeer, d’Artagnan must now prove his worth as a warrior, a lover, and a man.
All of the actors stand out in their own unique ways, but Melora Marshall, who plays the Musketeer named Aramis, nailed her role. Her portrayal of a royal guard sworn to uphold his martial duty, in conflict with biblical teachings learned in a prior life, encapsulate the inner and external struggle of the time.
In one particular moment, for example, during the Siege of La Rochelle, the Musketeers are led into temporary service of the Catholic cardinal, who uses force to eliminate a village of another faith. Should Aramis follow his biblical teachings, uphold his duty to the king of France, or follow the cardinal? Can he be responsible to everyone, including himself?
Aramis’s internal conflict is not even the focal point of the moment, but we cannot help but wonder what the people of the time must have felt amidst such suffering. And in other scenes, it is impossible not to laugh alongside Aramis as he bounces between his on-again and off-again relationship with God.
What is most engaging are the questions raised about what it means to defend a nation, uphold justice, and fight for what is right. More specifically, corollaries abound between a 17th century France in turmoil amidst political intrigue with Spain and England, and modern political struggles among Israel, Palestine, and the United States.
For example, we can see a relationship between the cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, the king of France, a duke of England, and the queen of Spain (with ties to the current political leaders of the time) and the United States as it fights wars in foreign countries amidst the influences of political strains, economic interests, and national pride.
The production has some slightly mature themes such as death, religion, war, and conflicts, but it is free of adult language, and the play is mostly lighthearted and comical in nature. As a matter of fact, it educates viewers in history, yet is filled with both comedy and drama.
With an intermission, the play runs 2 hours and 45 minutes, but feels much shorter due to an engaging story arc, fascinating characters with individual motivations, well-written conversations, several plot twists, excellent swordplay and choreography by Aaron Hendry, period costumes, and many other high quality elements woven together.
Ellen Geer, the director and adapter of the novel, told The Epoch Times, “The politics of the piece really knocked me out when I started to read it. We’ve heard talk of the states and religion coming together again, which is totally against what our forefathers gave us—to not do that.”
She continued, “To put that message into such a wonderful framework, the Musketeers, and display who they are, it goes right to your heart. This is not only about the Musketeers, it’s about the nation, the whole war scene—and the drama that we have today is part of the game. This is the reason I do work. It has to touch people.”
Jackson McCord Thompson, who plays the hero d’Artagnan, told The Epoch Times, “I think it’s a good story for anyone to learn that there is always something more to be done, something to achieve. Strive for your goals, they are there, go grab them.”
Ellen commented, “When people laugh at things and get caught up in things, it is because they recognize it. Isn’t that why they call it a classic?”
Altogether The Three Musketeers provides an enjoyable evening for young adults and families alike.
The Three Musketeers
The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, Calif.
Tickets: 310-455-3723 or www.theatricum.com
Running Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Closes: Oct. 3
For example, we can see a relationship between the cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, the king of France, a duke of England, and the queen of Spain (with ties to the current political leaders of the time) and the United States as it fights wars in foreign countries amidst the influences of political strains, economic interests, and national pride.
The production has some slightly mature themes such as death, religion, war, and conflicts, but it is free of adult language, and the play is mostly lighthearted and comical in nature. As a matter of fact, it educates viewers in history, yet is filled with both comedy and drama.
With an intermission, the play runs 2 hours and 45 minutes, but feels much shorter due to an engaging story arc, fascinating characters with individual motivations, well-written conversations, several plot twists, excellent swordplay and choreography by Aaron Hendry, period costumes, and many other high quality elements woven together.
The Director Ties the Play to Today
The ethical struggles among duty, responsibility to oneself, to others, and ultimately to God, play a primary role in the plot. This is what sets it apart from other adaptations of the legend, including those in film. There is more to this play than just the Musketeers.Ellen Geer, the director and adapter of the novel, told The Epoch Times, “The politics of the piece really knocked me out when I started to read it. We’ve heard talk of the states and religion coming together again, which is totally against what our forefathers gave us—to not do that.”
She continued, “To put that message into such a wonderful framework, the Musketeers, and display who they are, it goes right to your heart. This is not only about the Musketeers, it’s about the nation, the whole war scene—and the drama that we have today is part of the game. This is the reason I do work. It has to touch people.”
Jackson McCord Thompson, who plays the hero d’Artagnan, told The Epoch Times, “I think it’s a good story for anyone to learn that there is always something more to be done, something to achieve. Strive for your goals, they are there, go grab them.”
Ellen commented, “When people laugh at things and get caught up in things, it is because they recognize it. Isn’t that why they call it a classic?”
Altogether The Three Musketeers provides an enjoyable evening for young adults and families alike.
The Three Musketeers
The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, Calif.
Tickets: 310-455-3723 or www.theatricum.com
Running Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Closes: Oct. 3
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