Adaptation Of ‘The Three Musketeers’

Press, Volume C, Issue 29682, 28 November 1961, Page 23

Adaptation Of ‘The Three Musketeers’

Phoenix Theatre’s most ambitious production so far, a new stage adaptation by Charles Broussard of Alexandre Dumas’ novel, “The Three Musketeers,” will begin a week’s season at the Provincial Council Chambers next Saturday. The production of “The Three Musketeers” should appeal to all ages. It has been chosen as a major attraction of the annual Festival of the Pines at the Bowl of Brooklands. New Plymouth, next February, where audiences in the immense open-air theatre each night ©umber up to 20.000. For the Christchurch presentation, Phoenix .Theatre has received the active coltaborStion of the NewPlymouth Public Reflations Office and the Bowl of Brooklands Trust. The festival’s artistic director (Mr Alan de Malmanche) will be responsible for staging both productions and 14 members of the Christchurch cast have been invited to appear at New Plymouth also. Costumes in keeping with the richness of the 17th century French Court, in which the play is set, are being provided by the festival authorities for the 14 principals, some of whom, have several changes. Others in the cast will appear in costumes made here from designs and materials sent from New Plymouth. In addition to 32 speaking parts and several extras, the Christchurch production will also feature the Valerian Choir, trained by Mr J. R. van Tulrier, and ballets arranged by Lenor BarryBaker. Christchurch Swords Club members have been recruited to coach and take part in duelling scenes. Though “The Three Musketeers” is being staged for the first time in New Zealand several film versions have been seen since the first, in 1922, starred Douglas Fairbanks as D’Artagnan. The Compagrae Roger Planchon from Paris presented a new French version, “Les Trois Mousquetaires,” at the 1960 Edinburgh Festival and later

for a three weeks’ season at the Piccadilly Theatre, London. In the Phoenix Theatre production, Eric Woofe. a 20-year-old Auckland actor, will appear as D’Artagnan. He played leading roles in several Auckland productions (including Orpheus in Anouilh’s “Point of Departure” for Grafton Theatre) before joining the New Zealand Theatre Company for its tour of “Romeo and Juliet.” Another newcomer from Auckland, Louise Pajo, who will play Lady de Winter, test July completed a four months’ North Island tour as the Princess of France in Ronald Barker’s Community Arts Service production of “Love’s Labour Lost.” A ballet graduate of a leading Auckland school, Louise Pajo, at the age of 15, won the role of Alice in the Auckland Operatic Society’s production of “Alice in Wonderland,’’ and last year was one at 10 students selected for a year’s intensive course at the New Zealand Players’ Theatre School in Wellington. Also playing leading roles are Alastair Meldrum as Athos, John Febery as Porthos, Gordon Styles as Aram is, the three museeteers; lan Lund as Cardinal Richelieu, Gregory Kane as Louis Xin, Laurence Mcllroy as the Duke of Buckingham, Jennifer Barren as Constance, Janet Eales as the Queen, Laurence Hayston as Bonancieux, Dermot Holland, as Captain de TreviMe, Paitricia Turner as Kitty, Walter Goodman as Planchet, Joe Martin as Felton, Rita Tait as the landlady and Maysie Collins as Madame Coquenard. With supporting players, choir and ballet the cast will number 60. Grace McKenzie and Walter Goodman are in charge of wardrobe and the work of making nearly 40 costumes, apart from those being sent from New Plymouth. A set on several levels has been designed by lan Lund. It aims to blend with architectural features of the building and allows continuous action. The stage manager for the production is Ron Hawkins and the stage director Joe Martin.