Mendip Players The Three Musketeers

The Mendip Players present The Three Musketeers

It is on the outskirts of Cheddar that I now venture. At Draycott Memorial Hall The Mendip Players are presenting The Three Musketeers. There certainly wasn’t anything cheesy about this established group apart from Camembert of course!

The script was written by Vicky Orman and Dan Ward was once again in the driving seat as director.

A lot of thought had gone into this pantomime as we were immediately transported across the English Channel on arrival at the hall. All the front of house team joined in with the spirit of pantomime with their French themed attire. You only needed the onions for the full works! It was lovely entering the hall and hearing accordion music playing in the background. These ‘finishing touches’ no matter how small, can make all the difference and there was no doubt we had arrived in seventeenth century Paris.

I loved the opening set incorporating Le Pub, Musketeers HQ and the Eiffel Tower (well done Jeff, Keith, Dan and Stephen). The only thing lacking was the aroma of garlic bread!

It is clear you are all a dedicated team and lines were delivered confidently by all of you. I think the prompt had the afternoon off on Saturday!

It was great that you used the forth wall too. I always love the Dame to appear from the auditorium and this was well achieved by confident and likeable Nursie Merci although ‘she’ definately needed a shave above the top lip!

Good casting for the Musketeers too. This trio worked exceptionally well together and looked every much the characters. All principals portrayed their parts well including the dastardly Cardinal Richelieu. How could we ever forget you!

With a small adult chorus it was great to see so many juniors

treading the boards, probably the first time for many. It’s hardly surprising you needed so many chaperones on hand.

Props were aplenty and appropriate. Nataliya and Allie certainly had their work cut out. The aeroplane was most memorable. Jet 2 Holidays finally have some competition!

All society made costumes (and there were many) looked appealing under the new lighting gantry and sound was mastered skilfully and ‘bang on’ cue thanks to the talents of Hannah and Stephen.

With a packed audience I am sure everyone enjoyed their visit to Parisian parts. I certainly did. Thank you for your hospitality and well done to everyone both on and off stage.

Nigel Ford

Moderator