FHS Theatre puts '80s twist on 'Musketeers'

“All for one, and one for all!”

The Flathead High School Theatre Department will present Alexandre Dumas’ tale of heroism, treachery, and above all, honor, in “The Three Musketeers” Wednesday through Friday, Feb. 20, 21 and 22 at 6:27 p.m. in the David M. Hashley Theatre at Flathead High School.

Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at the FHS Main Office, Photo Video Plus and, if still available, at the door.

“The Three Musketeers” gets an adventurous and comedic update in this stage version that follows a spirited, young man, D’Artagnan, setting out for Paris to seek adventure. After discovering that the musketeers have been disbanded, he quickly makes friends with three legendary swordsmen: Athos, Aramis and Porthos. In the company of these gallant friends, D’Artagnan is immediately put to the test of being a musketeer. Along the way he finds love, faces temptation and finds himself in opposition to the most dangerous man in Europe — Cardinal Richelieu.

“It is a story about a young Gascon who, all his life, has dreamed of becoming a Musketeer,” Director Bethany Shehan said. “D’Artagnan meets the three most elite Musketeers and they all become fast friends. He is sent on quests to help the queen and falls in love with the queen’s dressmaker. Throughout the play, there are sword fights, bar brawls, romances, singing, comedy and even ... death.”

“The Three Musketeers,” is originally set in France in the 1600s. As a unique twist, the FHS Theatre Department has chosen to incorporate 1980s music to help emphasize the comedic side of the story.

“We figured that this show was so fun ... that we would give a traditional story a little twist,” Shehan said. “We are still using traditional outfits and props, but use ’80s music to set the mood.”

Loaded with exciting sword-play, intrigue and comedy, this stage adaptation, written by Douglas Langworthy with Linda Alper and Penny Metropulos, is an adventure for the whole family.

The Flathead Theatre Department has a special connection with this version of “The Three Musketeers,” Shehan added. “This version of ‘The Three Musketeers’ was written by an Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) actor. Flathead Theatre takes a group of students to that festival every year and it’s great to be able to take those experiences and apply it to a play written by someone involved with OSF itself.”

This stage version of “The Three Musketeers,” is filled with wit and humor and skillfully balances comedy and action while staying true to Dumas’ original novel. With an outstanding script and a hardworking and talented cast, this show will entertain.

The cast of “The Three Musketeers” includes Domminik Griffith, Dade Wendt, Sean Struble, Cameron Price, Isaac Glace, Daniel Edelen, Juniper Isaak, Brett Bonefeole, Ivy Olson, Connor Bullins, Rylee Houser, Carson Robison, Trinity Kurr, Christopher Emerson, Matt Nairn, Ella McGuffie, Jade Dickerson, Madison Byrd, Tyler Williamson, Lydia Wood, Megan Bonefeole, Charcy Bullock, Skye Thompson, Shelbie Guckenberg, Kadence Johnson, Rylee Burkhart and Edgar Hall as D’Artagnan.

Behind the scenes, stage manager Emme Schow, along with Tanis Hadwin, Rebekah Hopp, Cahira McDowell, Elly Schaefer, Hadasa Wagoner, Marie Holden, Juliana Preston, Keiryn Edelen, Serena Keil, Kay Gibbs, Terah Schexnider, Rebecca Charlesworth, Elly Schaefer, Seda Ramsay, Jazlyn LaPierre and Sabrina Orr make up the stage, lighting and sound crew.