There is so much swordplay in "The Three Musketeers" that it plays to advantage in an outdoor production. This theatrical adaptation by John Chambers of the Alexandre Dumas novel provides plenty of opportunities for the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company actors to run around on an outdoor stage at Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park in Ellicott City.
The vigorous fight scenes and equally boisterous comic scenes make for winning entertainment under the stars. That light tone helps carry the show.
Those who feel the need to have a plot will be engaged by the royal intrigue-filled story, but it often just seems like an excuse to justify the swordplay. It is curiously topical, though, that the story involves Protestant England and Catholic France mistrusting each other so much that they have gone to war. Whether in the 17th century or the 21st century, it seems that European unity is an elusive goal.
Distilling the lengthy 1844 Dumas novel to its character-based essence, this theatrical version pretty much opts for fighting and laughs within a buddy-buddy format that in this particular case might be described as buddy-buddy-buddy-plus-buddy.
First of all, there are the Three Musketeers: Porthos (Daniel Flint), Aramis (Gerrad Alex Taylor) and Athos (Kevin Alan Brown). They cut quite a figure, if you will, outfitted in matching blue-and-white costumes; and, for that matter, their facial hair also seems like they're tended to by the same barber.
Their "all for one, one for all" philosophy is nicely embodied in these three performances. The actors have slick timing as they trade comic lines, engage in battles with their foes and flirt with the young ladies.
This happy trio becomes a quartet when D'Artagnan (Brendan Edward Kennedy) seeks his fortune in Paris, hooks up with the musketeers and takes the story even further into bromance territory. These guys would be the life of any frat house, but in this case their sharp wit and even sharper swords are in the service of statecraft.
That political action probably would be easy to follow on its own terms, but there's also a narrator, Planchet (Keegan Cassady), who gets us situated. One reason why it's nice to have that narrator pop up from time to time is that his direct address to the audience brings us closer to characters and that connection facilitates a number of scenes in which the swashbuckling French characters in a period adventure directly acknowledge the Howard County audience members who have arrived with picnic baskets but sans swords.
This is a generally fleet-footed production that quite wisely does not take itself too seriously. There are places where co-directors Ian Gallanar and Patrick Kilpatrick could make scene transitions a bit faster and smoother, but occasional bumps along the way do not prevent the show itself from charging ahead.
The sword-wielding musketeers certainly do their part to keep things moving ahead, as do most of the other actors within a large cast.
Although it's a well-cast show in which the actors really seem right for their roles, there are mildly vexing problems with some of the supporting players not projecting enough to carry through all of that air atop a hill in Ellicott City.
Where the plot is concerned, for instance, there is high-level political melodrama between French King Louis XIII (Javier del Pilar) and Cardinal Richelieu (Frank B. Moorman). Neither actor projects loudly enough, though, and so what otherwise qualify as solid performances come across as too muted.
Fortunately, other supporting players come across loud and clear. This is especially appreciated with a couple of the female characters who are kept busy with all that intrigue.
Milady de Winter (Molly Moores) does a lot of spying on behalf of Richelieu, and Moores' energetic performance makes it truly enjoyable to follow this character's ethically dubious behavior.
A much nicer person, Constance (Courtney Feiman), is a seamstress to French Queen Anne (Lida Maria Benson) and Feiman gives a lively performance.
Besides the mostly effective performances, this physically rambunctious show benefits from persuasive staging. This begins with the stage itself. Daniel O'Brien, who also did the lighting, has designed a stage whose various platforms and walls seem like a streamlined castle.
Other production personnel helping to immerse us in that setting include costume designers Kristina Lambdin and Heather C. Jackson (wigs and makeup are also by Jackson); Nellie K. Glover, who choreographed the dances; and, crucial for such a show, James Jager, who handled the fight choreography.
Chesapeake Shakespeare Company's "The Three Musketeers" runs through July 24 at the Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park, 3691 Sarah's Lane in Ellicott City. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 6 p.m. Tickets are $33- $45; $29- $38 for seniors; $15 for students ages 19- 25; and children 18 and under free with a paying adult (limit two free kids' tickets per paid adult ticket, by reservation). Call 410-244-8570 or go to www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com