Review by Jan Kennard:
“The latest production of Detling Players was not quite what I expected.
The Three Musketeers was publicised as a comedy but it turned out to be much more than that. The unusual state of affairs with just four actors playing around 30 parts between them! I just don’t know how they did it! Most parts were played with many different accents. Costumes were pretty deftly changed between scenes (although some buttons were left undone (probably they took too long!). The back up behind scenes must have been incredible. So congratulations to the large team who not only dressed the actors but those who had to make sure the minimal scenery items were in the right place for each scene but the 40 plus props were all where they should be.
The music, lighting and various different bangs, photo shutter lights etc were timed to perfection by Chris Hall. Some that were slightly off (even if they weren’t meant to be) made it even funnier.
The four actors involved were Steve Page, Clare Pearce, Colin Leggatt and Samantha Tunstill-Baldock, all regular well-known actors with Detling Players.
Other than playing the lead characters of Porthos, Athos, Aramis and D’Artagnan each of them played male and female parts. Some of the changes were absolutely hilarious especially Steve’s portrayal of the highly neurotic maid Kitty who flounced in and off the stage screaming. Clare’s change of accents and costumes again had the audience in hysterics as did Colin’s portrayal of D’Artagnan as a child. Sam only seemed to play female parts (apart from Porthos) that she did with great aplomb strutting on and off in a very superior manner. Again I marvel at how any of the actors could remember what accent they should be using with their very quick turnaround of characters.
What seem to make this production more panto like was the total involvement of the audience who hissed and booed to such an extent that the cast were adlibbing and responding appropriately. Adding to the panto feel were the duck whistles and plastic ducks, thrown into the audience to blow and throw on to the stage when instructed – resulting in absolute mayhem during Lord Buckingham’s ‘shoot’ scene.
As you can imagine a very difficult production in every way to get to come together. Lesley Phippen, the Director, has to be congratulated in achieving the superb final result of such a complicated production that was extremely funny and memorable.”
