A trip to the Greenwich Theatre summer show has very much become a tradition here at The Family Stage, so we were delighted to be invited back again this year. For the first time since their inaugural repertory season in 2021 (featuring the fabulous The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Pinocchio), the theatre is offering up two different family productions aimed at slightly different age groups. Mummy will be back to review The Elves and the Shoemaker, but on Friday night she and the munchkins took a trip to 17th century Carcasonne for a musical retelling of The 3 Musketeers.
Written by Greenwich panto stalwart, Anthony Spargo, and directed by Greenwich Theatre’s artistic director, James Haddrell, The 3 Musketeers is a fun, feminist retelling of the Alexander Dumas classic. Following on from her recent roles in the 2024 productions of Beauty and the Beast and Dick Whittington and his Cat, Louise Cielecki steps onto the Greenwich stage once more, this time in the boots of d’Artagnan – In Spargo’s girl power production, the aspiring swordsperson is a farm girl who sets out to become the first female musketeer, while cunning Cardinal Richelieu (Michaela Murphy) also gets a refreshing (if not ecclesiastically accurate) update as the female villain of the piece.
Hellbent on seizing power in France, Richelieu has imprisoned Prince Louis (Finn Whelan) in a tall tower, to prevent him from taking the throne. And while the reluctant royal might be more interested in picnicking than power, he’s not overly keen on living the rest of his life Rapunzel style either. So, of course, it’s up to a trio of France’s finest fighters (and their newfound friend) to rescue the damoiseau in distress and save the kingdom.
It’s an enjoyable romp through the classic tale, that veers gently towards panto without tipping into the full-blown extravaganza that you can see on the same stage at Christmas. Songs are sung, swashes are buckled and stereotypes are well and truly subverted.
As ever, Spargo’s witty script is deftly directed by Haddrell (with Ella McKeown as Assistant Director) and peppered with pop songs (revitalised by another Greenwich regular, David Haller). A particular highlight of the production is the use of talented actor-musicians, who together play an array of instruments including piano, strings, brass, drums and accordion.
As usual, Cielecki sparkles whenever she’s on stage, demonstrating her versatility in a very different role to those we’ve seen her play previously (although there are glimmers of her panto persona in some moments). Verity Bajoria also impresses as a trio of different characters, while Whelan is especially entertaining as the flamboyant Prince Louis.
Overall, The 3 Musketeers is another fantastic summer production from Greenwich Theatre, which offers a tasty amuse-bouche ahead of panto season.
The 3 Musketeers plays at Greenwich Theatre from 24 July to 24 August 2025, as part of a repertory season alongside The Elves and the Shoemaker. We received complimentary press tickets to the evening performance on Friday 8 August.
Image credit: Lidia Crisafulli