The Three Musketeers: exciting visuals in this swashbuckling performance of the Dumas novel
Photo. Maria Vartanova
The Three Musketeers by Ken Ludwig. Adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, an OLT Production
The visuals in the latest Ottawa Little Theatre production are spectacular. The many sword fights in this athletic show are well executed. Even the flow of the set changes is very watchable.
Sadly, the script by Ken Ludwig (best known for his comedy Lend Me a Tenor) is of less interest than the production values. Yes, the play was a hit when it premiered at the Bristol Old Vic in 2006, but that does not lessen the annoying quality of the playwright’s uncertainty about whether to deliver a facetious send-up of the 19th-century novel or to stay true to Alexandre Dumas’ adventure story — a classic that has appeared in more than 100 languages.
The basic storyline remains, following the journey of country bumpkin D’Artagnan in his quest to serve his king as a musketeer. En route, he faces duels with Athos, Porthos and Aramis — the three musketeers of the title — falls in love with Queen Anne’s favourite lady-in-waiting, Constance, saves the Queen’s honour and incurs the wrath of the powerful Cardinal Richelieu and his lieutenant Rochefort.