The Three Musketeers  

The Three Musketeers - Le Panteau

28 Nov 2024

I prepared myself for a rendezvous with the latest HADIT production and I really needed to be ‘En Garde’ for this fast and furious charge back in time to the days of chivalry and honour in the French Style avec plenty of ‘Ooh La La’ and no shortage of ‘Sacre Bleu’ in this romp inspired by the Three Musketeers.

As an ‘aperitif’ we were introduced to ‘les enfants terribles’, Cardinal Richeleeugh and Le Chevalier du Lobster Roquefort (Boo Hiss)… ably played by Tim Smallwood and Nick Williams.

For ‘Hors D’oeuvres’ we were treated to ‘ Plonquer’…a thief and general low life played with great zeal and ‘ne sais quoi’ by Ali Harrison.

For the ‘cordon bleu’ main course we were offered a complex and convoluted dish of daring doo and slapstick intrigue that made the Arc de Triomphe roundabout look like a gentile drive in the country.

It was great to see a number of new faces in the cast; it’s always good to see new blood…especially if it’s not on the end of a sword.  Also great to see the kids getting involved …they did a marvellous job as the ‘tres chic’ pigs and rats.

There were too many performers to mention each in turn, The Three Musketeers ate, drank and  ‘romanced’ their way through with great aplomb.  Monica Secretan was excellent as the ‘wannabe’ Musketeer.  Special praise should go to Brent Storey as the gorgeous Dame Désiree ( whose name speaks for itself?). Jo Elliott also stood out as the sinister Malady de Splinter (Boo Hiss) and Phil Edge excelled as Hoh- Hi- Hon and the innkeeper.   All others, too many to mention, played their parts admirably to keep the show moving along at pace (escargot excepted!).

Brandishing my critical quill… I would say ‘Le Panteau’ was a little too long, which kept the prompt busy and would be a challenge for any younger audience members.  I thought there was a little too much emphasis on the sinister plotting/torture/scheming and not enough of the light-hearted, raucous, innuendo filled, slapstick nonsense typical of a traditional pantomime.

Les highlights for me were ‘The Master of the House’ song, Dame Désiree’s timing and delivery and Le Plonquer’s  guttural charm and audience engagement.

The evening was made complete by the fabulous live music/sound effects and most of all ‘le crème de la crème’ for me was the amazing costumes and make up that brought the production to life.

All in all… under very difficult circumstances another ‘avant guard’, ‘tour de force’ from the HADIT ‘repertoire’.

Merci and Bonsoir.

Tony Evans