Truth, it is said, is often stranger than fiction, and this is never truer than when the inventive and irreverent minds of the Buntport Theater collaborative begin to riff on a few choice facts.
In the world premiere of “Musketeer,” these facts revolve around Alexandre Dumas, père, and his research and writing of the ever popular adventure novel, “The Three Musketeers.”
As with many great storytellers, Dumas based his work on someone else’s less effective but potentially compelling material, in this case “The Memoirs of Mister d’Artagnan,” which he borrowed from the Castellane Branch of the Marseilles Public Library. The trouble is, Dumas never returned the book.
More than 150 years later, Charlotte, a librarian at Castellane, reads that Dumas is to be disinterred from his local burial monument and tourist attraction, and hand towed to the Pantheon in Paris, where he is to be enshrined with other French luminaries.
Erin Rollman inhabits Charlotte as a compulsive-obsessive bureaucratic rules enforcer whose unyielding devotion to the library’s policies, and lack of allegiance to the laws of space- time, lead her to a confrontation with the famous author.
Like the proverbial gun on stage that must be used, Dumas’ casket is fully pimped out by the irrepressible ensemble, replete with wheels, trap doors and a fringe-trimmed awning.
All it takes is a little knock on the wooden box to wake up the dead and send us on a mercurial, back-and- forth journey between the present and 1844. It’s nice to see that after all these years in such a confining space, Dumas (Evan Weissman) is still in good spirits. We’re drawn in by Weissman’s jovial manner and urbane wit, which lend Dumas gravity and intelligence. After all, this guy’s books have outsold Victor Hugo and Voltaire.
To attempt to collect an overdue book fine of 5,784 euros from Dumas, Charlotte must get past his honor guard, three contemporary French citizens, each dressed as one of the Three Musketeers, with a personality suited to the role. One of them, Edgard (Erik Edborg), who plays Athos, is Charlotte’s former husband.
As prescribed by the novel, Edborg’s Athos is an upright, principled, even chivalrous fellow. Hanna Duggan is thoughtful, devout and serene as Simone, who stands in for Aramis. Brian Colonna is outrageous as the hot-headed, hard-drinking, womanizing Porthos.
As loyal Buntport patrons know, the ensemble’s imaginative story lines are only one facet of the creativity that regularly erupts on this stage. The entire story of “Musketeer” is enacted in front of panels that serve as projection screens for video and cinematic scenery, narrative and documentary evidence, as well as for shadow boxes employed to display a series of stunning pantomimes and some nifty sleight-of-hand.
Andrew Horwitz’s live score seamlessly enhances the action.
“Musketeer” is an impressive kickoff to the company’s eighth year, exhibiting a hard-won sophistication born from dedication to their collaborative regime. The genuine hilarity, the poignancy of Dumas’ aesthetic argument for his transgression, and the special effects make for a compelling evening.
Bob Bows also reviews theater for Variety, for KUVO/89.3 FM, and for his own website, . He can be reached at bbows@coloradodrama.com.
“Musketeer” ***1/2 (out of four stars)
Original comedy. Written, directed and crafted collaboratively by the Buntport Theater ensemble. Starring Erin Rollman, Hannah Duggan, Erik Edborg, Brian Colonna, Evan Weissman and Samantha Schmitz. 1 hour, 21 minutes. Through Sept. 6. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; two Sunday performances: 3 p.m. Aug. 24 and 31 $13-$16. Thursday, Aug. 21 performance is a benefit for Paragon Theatre. 303-935-3044 or
This week’s theater openings
“As You Like It”
TheatreWorks’ annual double-shot of Shakespeare begins with the tale of desperate refugees who fly from an oppressive court and find, in the great outdoors, that all the world’s a stage. In this comedy, love blooms on every branch. And in Colorado Springs, a former Miss Nebraska (Jane Noseworthy) stars as Rosalind, the girl who dresses like a boy to teach the boy how to get the girl. Through Sept. 7, in repertory with “Venus and Adonis.” At Bon Vivant Theater, 3955 Cragwood Drive, Colorado Springs, 719-262-3232 or
“The Complete History of America (Abridged)”
America’s sacred cows run for cover as three actors cheerfully run riot over 500 years of our country’s history in this 90-minute politically incorrect romp, written by the self-proclaimed “bad boys of abridgement” (The Reduced Shakespeare Company). It’s history — complete with giant props, goofy wigs, bad musical numbers and lots of water. Through Aug. 30. Theatre Company of Lafayette at the Mary Miller Theater, 300 E. Simpson, 720-209-2154 or
“Venus and Adonis”
The sexiest of goddesses loves the handsomest of young men. But in this narrative poem, that’s no match made in heaven. Featuring a lusty stallion, a terrified bunny and a savage boar. Starring Tracy Hostmyer and Richard Crawford. Opens Wednesday and runs through Aug. 31, in repertory with “As You Like It.” At Bon Vivant Theater, 3955 Cragwood Drive, Austin Bluffs Parkway west of Union Boulevard, 719-262-3232 or
Compiled by John Moore
Complete theater listings
Go to our complete list of every currently running production in Colorado, including summaries, run dates, addresses, phones and links to every company’s home page.
This week’s podcast
Running Lines . . . at This week, Denver Post theater critic John Moore reports from the July 31 performance, in which the former Denver Center Theatre Company actor revisited some of his favorite roles as a fundraiser for Modern Muse. We offer performance excerpts interspersed with comments from Horton and friends including John Hutton, Randy Moore, Elizabeth Rainer, Anthony Powell and Dan O’Neill. Excerpts include “Bernice/Butterfly,” “Harvey,” “Julius Caesar,” “The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde,” “Trumbo: Red, White and Blacklisted,” “Inna Beginning” and more. Recorded July 31, 2008. Run time: 13 minutes.
To access the podcast, click on the underlined link above and you will taken to a miniplayer. There, click on the play button, and the podcast will begin, with no downloading necessary. Or, right-click on the “download,” option, to save a copy to your own desktop, and you’ll have more control over playback.
