The Arts Club Theatre Company leaps into the new year with the sensational, swashbuckling comedy adaptation of The Three Musketeers, at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage until February 16th.
Adapted by Catherine Bush from the classic novel the novel by Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers brilliantly brings all the action, adventure and camaraderie of the much loved story to life. Never taking itself too seriously, the play follows daring young d’Artagnan and the dashing Musketeers – Athos, Porthos and Aramis – as they fight to protect their loved ones and their country from the cunning Cardinal Richelieu.
Daniel Fong as d’Artagnan is wide-eyed and full of enthusiasm, keeping the audience invested in his quest to become a musketeer. After an initial encounter with the henchman Rochefort (Garett Ross) and the conniving temptress Milady de Winter (Bahareh Yaraghi) d’Artagnan visits his father’s childhood friend, now head of the Musketeers Madame de Treville (Nadien Chu) which leads him into the mentorship of the heroic and skilled trio; Athos played by Darren Martens, Porthos by Alexander Ariate and Aramis by Braydon Dowler-Coltman. While each musketeer has a tale of their own foibles and follies that led them to the guard when their foils are drawn they work with a singular loyalty – one for all, all for one.
Thwarting their quest for peace is the Machiavellian Cardinal Richelieu, played by Scott Bellis with dastardly, mustache-twirling zeal. Along with his evil partners Rochefort and Milady de Winter they plot against the Queen (Alexandra Lainfiesta) and her lover the dashing Duke of Buckingham (Felix LeBlanc), who are aided by d’Artagnan’s love interest, the beautiful and innocent Constance (Jade V. Robinson) in enlisting the heroes’ help as well as that of Madame de Treville’s manservant Panchet – played for scene-stealing laughs by Farren Timoteo, who also plays the camp and carefree King Louis.
With the stellar cast under the direction of Daryl Cloran, Artistic Director of Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre, the Arts Club’s production partner, The Three Musketeers is both a fast-paced, action-packed swashbuckling adventure and a smart, quick-witted romantic comedy. Adding to the action’s realism Fight Director Jonathan Hawley Purvis and Choreographer & Intimacy Director Anna Kuman have crafted cinematic duels and battles filled with carefully choreographed and timed use of Cory Sincennes multi-level set design. When combined with Sincennes, sensational period costumes the audience is truly transported to 17th century France. The two hour production is full of face-paced adventure that leaves the viewer perfectly satisfied but also wanting to continue on to the next adventures with the now four musketeers.
Catch the action for yourself as The Three Musketeers continues at The Arts Club Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage until February 16, 2025. Visit artsclub.com to find showtimes and tickets, including special events; Talk Back Tuesday on February 4, Open Caption Performances on February 2 and 11, Vocal Eye Performances on February 9 and 14, and a Relaxed Performance on February 9.
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