3 Musketiers is a Dutch musical, also known as 3 Musketiere (German), 3 Musketeers (English) and A 3 Testőr (Hungarian) written by Ferdi Bolland and Rob Bolland. The story is based on Alexandre Dumas, père's 1844 novel The Three Musketeers. It premiered in Rotterdam in 2003 starring Bastiaan Ragas as d'Artagnan and Pia Douwes as Milady de Winter.
Productions
A German production (opening in Berlin in 2005) was later mounted, also starring Pia Douwes. A Hungarian production was mounted in 2006.
The original Dutch production featured minimalist sets and abstract costumes by Yan Tax, which were not true to the period of the piece, but gave a feeling of the character and an impression of the era. For example, Milady De Winter's costumes were based mainly in leather and lace, whereas Anna wore spectacularly jeweled gowns, including a dress made entirely from real peacock feathers.
The German productions used the same costumes with some new additions—the most notable change being that Milady's costume for Where did that summer go? was changed from a black leather coat and dishevelled hair to a long black velvet gown and her hair down and curly. The sets for the German productions were realistic and true to the period of the piece and gave an interesting contrast with the modern costume styles. Following in the tradition of Elisabeth, new songs were added for each new production.
Synopsis
Beginning in Gascony in 1626, d'Artagnan practices duelling on his parents' farm before his sick father arrives and reminds him that duelling has been forbidden by the King. D'Artagnan's father reminisces about his days as one of the King's musketeers - a position to which d'Artagnan aspires. D'Artagnan reflects on his aged Father's condition (Father) before deciding to leave for Paris to try to become a Musketeer (Today Is The Day).
At an inn outside Paris, the Catholic and Protestant villagers reflect on their shared hate of one another (Catholic and Huguenot) while the captain of the Cardinal Guard, Rochefort, waits with his men for the arrival of Milady de Winter, who has returned from England where she has been spying on the English Court. Milady arrives, excited to be back in France and dreams of being reunited with her one true love (Milady Is Back).
Rochefort instructs Milady that she must remain in the inn and not continue to Paris since she was exiled from France some 25 years previously and cannot travel without documentation from the Cardinal. D'Artagnan arrives at the inn and gets into a duel with Rochefort and wins, before carrying on his journey to Paris. Three of the King's Musketeers (Athos, Porthos and Aramis) reflect on their shared love and hate for Paris, just as d'Artagnan arrives in the city. The Queen's handmaiden, Constance, watches the sun rise over the city as the whores and traders of the city go about their routine (Paris).
Constance and d'Artagnan meet on the streets of the city, before d'Artagnan manages to get into arguments with Athos, Porthos and Aramis, who challenge him to a duel the following morning. At the cathedral, Cardinal Richelieu prays, displaying his absolute faith (O Lord). Queen Anna arrives and is advised by Richelieu to use her influence on the King to instigate a holy war against the Protestant church. The King arrives and the merits of war are discussed, with suggestion that the King uses Anna as a political pawn to gain favour from her family in the Spanish court (War or no war).
The following morning, d'Artagnan arrives for his duel, as do the three musketeers, only to be interrupted by Rochefort and his men. The musketeers and d'Artagnan win a fight against Rochefort and the Cardinal Guard and they agree to take d'Artagnan to meet with the King (One for all and all for one).
At the cathedral, Milady arrives to speak with Richelieu, telling him that she has seen the British Prime Minister Lord Buckingham in Paris and that, in exchange for Richelieu reversing her exile, she will spy on him. Richelieu reveals a brand on Milady's shoulder and reminds her that she is in his power and always will be. He reveals that she was branded for having an affair with a priest and that she will always be in debt to the Church. As Richelieu leaves, Milady reflects on her situation and that she was actually raped by a priest and that the Church blamed her. Anna reflects on her arranged marriage to the king and Constance dreams of d'Artagnan (Who can live without love?).