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This festive season sees The New Vic do what they do best, and put their own stamp on an age-old classic, and this year, it’s a glorious retelling of Alexandre Dumas’ 1844 novel The Three Musketeers. It’s a story that’s been recreated on stage and screen time and again, but this particular take on the tale, adapted and directed by Theresa Heskins, is going to be unlike any other you’ve seen before, packed with bold storytelling, stunning fight choreography, clever humour and stunning costumes.
The story follows d’Artagnan, a young farmer’s son who travels to Paris dreaming of joining the Royal Guard. Meanwhile, The streetwise city girl Milady spies her chance to escape her life as a servant, though with less honest intentions. Along the way, d’Artagnan encounters the three musketeers – Athos, Porthos, and Aramis – and soon get caught up in a thrilling mission to uncover a spy and thwart a dangerous plot against the King and Queen during what might be considered his ‘trial shift’.
The cast is exceptional, made up of New Vic favourites like Gareth Cassidy and Perry Moore, as well as those making their first appearance at the Newcastle-under-Lyme venue. Lemar Moller charms as the eager and earnest d’Artagnan, while Louis J Rhone, Hadley Smith, and Thomas Dennis bring the musketeers to life with style, wit and dashing looks. Hadley stands out as Porthos, delivering both action and humor reminiscent of Nick Frost’s comedic flair, while Thomas’s many disguises elicit giggles from the audience. Louis’ Athos is graceful in all of his scenes, his character always honourable and respectful.
Charlotte Price is wonderfully menacing as the scheming Milady, while Perry Moore’s Cardinal is sly and equally as cunning. It’s a stark contrast to Chloe Ragrag’s quiet and whimsical character, Constance – who is handmaid to the vivacious Queen, played brilliantly by Emma Symmonds, who has such an infectious energy and the lions share of witty lines in the script. Her on-stage ‘darly warly’, Gareth Cassidy steps into his role as the King with ease, too, bringing laughs with his portrayal of royal vanity – his gripe about his pen a clever nod to 2022 headlines.
One of the production’s highlights is undoubtedly – and perhaps unsurprisingly – the sword-fighting choreography, expertly directed by Philip d’Orléans. The fight scenes are front and centre of the Three Musketeers story, and their on-stage recreations are thrilling and impressively precise, with clanging blades and swirling capes adding to overall spectacle. The in-the-round setting allows you to see the action in 360 degrees, with actors making use of the whole theatre, from the aisles to even popping up out of the floor, or dropping down from the rafters, making the production feel all the more immersive.
The choreography isn’t limited to combat, either. The masquerade ball – complete with masks for members of the audience – is another visual treat, with beautifully synchronised dance sequences, but not ones you would typically expect – instead of your traditional ballroom moves, Beverley Norris-Edmunds opted for voguing. Also adding a fresh edge to the period setting is costume designer Lis Evans, who puts a modern spin on 17th-century attire, the musketeers donning denim jeans and leather jackets, no less.
The show delivers plenty of humour, action, and creativity. The slow motion scenes in particular stand out, as well as the wire-crafted horse, Buttercup, which reminded me of War Horse. But I did feel like the show was missing an element of ‘magic’ at times. The story’s mystery and intrigue are compelling, but for me, it lacked the illusions of Astley’s Astounding Adventures, or the festive feel of Copellia: A Mystery and The Nutcracker. In a way, the New Vic might just be victims of their own success. And while it might be difficult to outdo themselves when it comes to some of my favourite productions, it’s still a thoroughly enjoyable show and a refreshing alternative to traditional pantomimes and is sure to entertain families and fans of adventure.
Brought to life in the New Vic’s spectacular style, this show is filled with fast-paced action, swashbuckling adventure, music and lots of fun, while driving home a message about friendship, courage and doing what is right. The show runs at The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme until Saturday, January 25 and you can buy your tickets here.
