The Return Of The Three Musketeers
Gallery ReviewTwenty years on, and D’Artagnan finds himself a lowly and poorly paid lieutenant in the King’s Musketeers. His one time friends and allies gone, his adventures and service to the crown of France forgotten. But a chance meeting with an old enemy sets him on a path to rescue the King of England from death at the hands of rebellious Parliamentarians. He can’t do it alone though. Can he find and persuade his old comrades in arms to join his cause? And even if they do, can they hope to win out against ridiculous odds? And who is the spirit of vengeance that stalks their every move…?
Cast
Indianna Scorziello
Penny Payne
Luke Argles
Sean Young
Tim Young
Steve Harris
Joe Wilson
Paul Ford
Richard Lloyd
Dawn Lock
Bruce Montgomery
Tania Gauci
Becka Blanchard
Sophie Fisher
Catherine Vines
Anya Destiney
John East
Mike Brown
Simeon Dawes
Chris Argles
Tim Young
Sophie Fisher
Jonathan North
Dawn Lock
Becka Blanchard
Tania Gauci
Penny Payne
Jonathan North
Simeon Dawes
Eloise Brown
Dawn Lock
Becka Blanchard
Tim Young
Chris Argles
Emily Brown
The Company
Backstage team
Paul M Ford
Dawn Lock
Pete Bird
Simeon Dawes
Kathy Dawes
Steve North
Andy Hall
Mike Brown
Steve Harris
Jeannie Lewis, Keith Lewis, Guy Harries-Rees, Anji Thomas
Chris Argles, Mike Brown, Andy Hall, Steve Harris, Keith Lewis
Becka Blanchard, Anya Destiney, Paul Ford, Tania Gauci, Richard Lloyd, Penny Payne, Joe Wilson, Trevor Wilson
Sheila Bird, Kathy Dawes, Lyn Hall, Jeannie Lewis, Dawn Lock
Kathy Dawes, Catherine Vines
Paul Ford, Richard Lloyd
Sean Young
Tim Young
Sharolyn Longman
Reviewed by Theo Spring for The Croydon Advertiser
All for one and one for all in Coulsdon
Lots of swash and buckle, much clash of steel in heroic sword fights and an excellent script to boot.
The play was adapted from the Dumas novel ‘Twenty Years After’ by Paul Ford who not only kept the tale full of intrigue and excitement, but played a bold Aramis. Along with Mike Brown as the now wealthy Porthos and Richard Lloyd as gallant Athos, the three met up again with the courageous D’Artagnan – a sparkling Luke Argles – to rescue King Charles I as he awaited execution.
Of course, history tells us they failed, but their efforts and how, but for the King’s self-sacrifice, they could have succeeded, made a great tale.
A large cast with some doubling and even trebling of roles, were elegantly costumed by a team of six and the all-important sound and lighting for this outdoor production was first class.
Comedy came from John East as Planchet, D’Artagnan’s servant, as well as the Musketeers themselves. Anya Destiney fooled them as Charles’ daughter Henrietta-Maria, dressed as a man to encourage his rescue.
Wickedness to foil the rescue was led by Indianna Scorziello as De Winter – a lady with a score to settle, and Bruce Montgomery as the obsequious Cardinal Mazarin, also with a plot of his own. Instigating the rescue and hoping the reunite the Musketeers, Anne, Queen of France was given enthusiasm and grace for the cause by Tania Gauci and Dawn Lock’s Lady Mountpleasant bravely hid and fed the four.
Amongst the many character parts Tim Young made an excellent jailer, Sean Young a subservient Bernouin, Jo Wilson an eagerness as the Compte de Rochefort and Jonathan North obedient as the soldier Braddock.
Directed by Paul Ford and Dawn Lock, and thoroughly enjoyed by the audience, even the light shower did nothing to dampen the zeal.
