OPINION — If you’re looking for a campy, cheesy, good time with lots of one-liners directed to the audience, then the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s “The Three Musketeers” is the show for you.
The play follows the basic plot of the Alexander Dumas classic. Eager Musketeer to-be D’Artagnan goes to the big city to find his destiny and ends up in a twisted plot of duels, damsels, treason and of course sword fighting. For this viewer, however, it wasn’t quite as swashbuckling as it could’ve been.
The Musketeers are witty and the rifle affects are fun.
If attention to detail is important to you, overlook the jeans some of the actors are wearing (pockets weren’t even invented until the 18th century), and focus on the camaraderie between the Musketeers and the audience. They do a great job of bringing you into the joke like an old friend. Kids will love the sword fighting and adults will be content with a childhood story brought to stage.
The opening of the new outdoor Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre promised state-of-the-art acoustics and design but the only thing better than the original were the restrooms. With the abundance of concrete covering every possible surface, the new theatre looked like they might launch a space shuttle for the green show.
If you go, get seats in the center section close to the front. The acoustics pale in comparison to the Adams Shakespearean Theatre it replaces. The Adams boasted an Old World charm and ambience that transported you back centuries, both noticeably missing from the new $39 million facility. Without the trees to buffer noise and because it is located closer to the street, you can hear stadium cheering and traffic instead of the words of Shakespeare.
“The Three Musketeers” opened in June and runs through Sept. 9. Details and links for ticket purchase follow below.
Written by Brooke Bang for St. George News
Event details
- What: Utah Shakespeare Festival’s “The Three Musketeers”
- When: June 29-Sept. 9 in revolving repertory with other shows
- Where: Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre, 299 W. Center St., Cedar City
- Ticket price: $32 to $73, with discounts for groups, students and seniors | detailed information here
- Ticket purchase: By telephone 800-PLAYTIX or 800-752-9849 | online www.bard.org
- Resources: Printable The Beverley Sorenson Center for the Arts Site Map
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
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