BWW Reviews: THE THREE MUSKETEERS, The Unicorn Theatre, April 7 2011

The Three Musketeers, like many classic novels that have subjected to multiple adaptations, the original work is more complex, and rather darker, than the impression left by Douglas Fairbanks and Oliver Reed, Tom and Jerry and er... Barbie. The Unicorn Theatre has established a tradition of fearlessly doing whatever the opposite of "dumbing down" is - trusting children to deal with complex plotting, death and duplicity, love and loss. Rosamunde Hutt's ambitious staging of Carl Miller's largely loyal version of Dumas' work is no exception and will engage parents as much as the pre-teens and teens for whom it is nominally presented.  

Seeking entry to the elite militia known as The Musketeers, provincial D'Artagnan has soon made made enemies of three of their finest, Athos, Aramis and Porthos. But, having made common cause in a fight against the Cardinal's men and shown skill and bravery, D'Artagnan is soon inducted into the creed of "All for one and one for all" if not yet qualified to wear the lily that marks a musketeer's loyalty to their king. D'Artangnan retains his youthful high spirited naiviety through his entanglement in political intrigues, failed love affairs and casual assasination. In an ingenious staging on a simple set, with each character given fully rounded personalities - Athos' sad past is told as he swigs wine, Aramis' firece sense of honour is offset against his religious zealotry, Porthos' Falstaffian love for life provides comic relief and Milady's wickedness is revealed in parallel with the past that has led her to such nihilistic extremes - the subtlety Dumas' characters are brought out from behind the caricatures with which I grew up.  

This is the final production for the Unicorn's ensemble and more than ever is demanded of Samantha Adams, John Cockerill, Julie Hewlett, Liam Lane, Eric Nzaramba and Amaka Okafor, playing as many as four parts each, changes signified through different costumes and, of course, skilled acting. Their sword-fighting is utterly convincing, their comic lines timed to perfection and their scenes of love gained and lost powerful enough to provoke audible gasps in an audience - young and not so young - transfixed for two hours of drama that cumlinates three years' work characterised by a spirit of "All for one and one for all!" 

The Three Musketeers continues at The Unicorn Theatre until 8 May 2011.