The Three Musketeers, New Vic Theatre: Review

23/11/24, evening performance

Continuing the well-loved tradition of its festive shows, this year the New Vic delivers a thoroughly entertaining, crowd-pleasing adaptation of the Three Musketeers. Credit must be afforded to adapter and director Theresa Heskins, who has given the slightly less PG Dumas original a playful, family-friendly makeover - without losing any of its intrigue and adventure.

The adaptation is an exercise in impressive stage combat, choreographed by fight director Phillip d'Orléans and executed by the well-trained cast with a balletic precision. Massive sword-fighting displays bring the tension and classic feel of the story, making that pleasing clack-clack-clack sound and keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Fight scenes were also greatly accentuated by some serious cape action, the staple of all old-timey theatre that really makes you wonder why they fell out of fashion. Lis Evan's costume design overall is a standout feature - the musketeers, keeping their 17thC silhouettes, are now clad in denim and leather, a modern edgy take that makes our heroes more pragmatic than pompous, as period-accurate costuming might do. The Act 2 ball scene is further excuse to showcase her opulent, golden designs, and is a scene where the production's visual flair really shines.

Lemar Moller makes for a loveable D'Artagnan, the unexpected hero who finds camaraderie and companionship with the titular band-of-brothers, all sharing an excellent chemistry. This anglicised version of the tale sees the French countryman given a West Country accent, a choice that has more comic mileage than you'd imagine and luckily never wore thin or felt like Kurtan from the BBC's This Country had been dropped into a fairytale. The humour was consistent throughout, both in clever dialogue and physical comedy, which was tastefully not too slapstick, and often incorporated into the intricate fight scenes.

Overall, this production was a fun-filled journey that hit all the right notes for family theatre - but nothing less can be expected for the New Vic, which has been consistently proving it can do so. If you're looking to get your kids away from screens over the coming holidays, this production makes for a charming, imaginative excursion. But its not just for kids either; grown-ups may find themselves swept away in this dashing adventure. I certainly was - walking across the theatre's car park, I genuinely googled 'fencing lessons near me'. Might buy a leather jacket next.

The Three Musketeers is on at the New Vic Theatre until Saturday 25th January, 2025.

The Three Musketeers - New Vic Theatre