Read the Top 5 Reviews! All reviews are written by high school students in the Edmonton and surrounding area.
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by Brianna Farough
Morinville Community High School
Hear ye, hear ye! I bring news from Paris, a tale of honour and bravery, thrilling swordplay and beautiful staging. Mother Margaret Mary's The Three Musketeers has brought a timeless story to life. From lead actor Nate Cook's charming portrayal of D'Artagnan to the dedication and synced teamwork of the backstage crew, this faction of brilliant actors has made a one-of-a-kind version of a novel told countless times throughout history.
Ken Ludwig's The Three Musketeers is a retelling of Alexandre Dumas' classic novel about a
young man's bravery and dream of becoming one of the King's infamous guardsmen, the Musketeers. Between wrangling his defiant little sister and accidentally thwarting the Cardinal himself, D'Artagnan finds himself standing between the monarchy of France and a dangerous enemy. With the help of infamous but rowdy Musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis, D'Artagnan must protect his family and friends and save his country, utilizing his bravery and honour to become the unlikely hero his nation needs.
Many know the first half of the iconic quote, "All for one and one for all!" However, Mother
Maragret Mary's production better embodies the second half; "United we stand, divided we fall." The unity of the cast took this production to a level deeper than a mere retelling of a classic tale. The brotherly dynamic of performers Lindelwe Moyo, Audrey Stroppel, and Xavier Dackiw (Porthos, Anthos and Aramis, respectively), as well as the sibling dynamic between Cook's D'Artagnan and actress Karolina Guzman Smyl's Sabine, made every scene and interaction feel natural and organic. In addition, the villainous duo Jack Suitor as Cardinal Richelieu and his henchman Kylie Flanders as Rochefort brought a humorous drama to the stage. These actors carried a compelling atmosphere and made their
mark as brilliant actors in this beautiful classic.
The Three Musketeers author Alexandre Dumas once said, "The merit of all things lies in their difficulty." I have not seen a better representation of this than the sheer strength and coordination of Mother Margaret Mary's backstage crew. Their dedication and timing breathed life into this classic without breaking the flow of the production. In addition, the quick character changes done by actress Rianna Saint-Martin were perfect, as she starred in not one but three different ensemble roles, and with triple the work, she deserves a toast. I can't go without mentioning the beautiful lighting effects designed and programmed (several times) by the lighting lead and assistant stage manager, Olwen Klug.
The hard work and effort that this team put in displayed beautifully in their final product, and their adaptation was something I'm sure the extravagant Porthos himself would have appreciated.
Mother Margaret Mary's The Three Musketeers uniquely brought this timeless classic to life with intricate lighting, beautiful sets, and a bonded company that never let a scene fall short. Love may be the most selfish of all passions, but I am proud to say that I fell in love with this production, and I cannot wait to see what Storm Productions does next.
by Sara Dumitru
Archbishop O’Leary
Get ready to be totally engrossed in the world of Mother Margaret Mary's The Three Musketeers. It has jaw dropping twists, action-packed swordfighting, a witty sense of humor, and everlasting friendships while also being a heartfelt romance, all in one!
In this theater adaptation created in 2006 by Ken Ludwig based on the novel made in 1844 by Alexandre Dumas. d'Artagnan (played by Nate Cook) the main protagonist, sets out to France from Gascony in the mid 1600s with his younger sister Sabine (played by Karolina Guzman Smyl) with the motivation of following in his Father’s footsteps and becoming a Musketeer (personal bodyguard of the King of France). Along the way to achieve his goal d’Artagnan figures out the true meaning of being a hero with help of his new friends Porthos (played by Lindelwe Moyo), Athos (played by Audrey Stroppel), and Aramis (played by Xavier Dackiw).
Mother Margaret Mary’s production was phenomenal and the saying “ All for one and one for all” was clearly shown by them as many scene changes were needed during the performance and the cast and crew worked together to make it happen, all in character. It was also nice to see even most of the crew in costumes while changing sets giving the illusion of still being in the world of the Musketeers. I also want to give a shout out to the crew for those scene changes as it looks so smooth and somewhat elegant, oddly satisfying to watch. The lighting of the stage gave such a mood for every scene especially during some scenes with Cardinal Richelieu (played Jack Suitor), I aplaude Olwen Klug (the lighting lead) and the rest of the lighting crew as it really added to the production. Costumes and props were also one of my favorites things to look out for as they were so keen on detail like the old fashioned bee smoker or the costume that Cardinal wore. The characters were astounding, the personality put into each one and the growth of the characters through the play, the emotions of each character felt raw. However two characters stood out the most to me and it was Suitor playing the Cardinal and Kylie Flanders playing the role of Rochefort. Those two made it disney villain and henchmen vibes and it was a blast every time they were on stage together.
Mother Margaret Mary’s performance was extraordinary, leaving the audience at the edge of their seats to whatever happened next even if you know the tale, their storytelling of it left you captivated, you can really tell how much heart and soul they’ve put into their work.
by Alex Vitols
Strathcona High School
Mother Margaret Mary High School has been known for its very lively arts program, and indeed their recent production of The Three Musketeers lives up to that reputation. At the helm was Andi Molloy, who brought a swashbuckling mix of action, drama, and heart to the stage. With great set design, emotionally charged performances, and impeccable teamwork, this production was certainly one to be remembered.
Set in 17th-century France, The Three Musketeers follows the daring journey of D’Artagnan (Nate Cook), an ambitious young swordsman who seeks to join the legendary Musketeers—Athos (Audrey Stroppel), Porthos (Lindelwe Moyo), and Aramis (Xavier Dackiw). Together, they uncover a devious plot by the scheming Cardinal Richelieu (Jack Suitor) and the enigmatic Milady de Winter (Molly Vince) to destabilize the monarchy. With its many thrilling sword fights, moments of camaraderie, and moral dilemmas, the story is timeless in bravery, loyalty, and justice.
Performances by the cast were stellar, driven by Nate Cook as D'Artagnan on stage. The
Musketeers-Stroppel, Moyo, and Dackiw-blended in different personalities, which worked very well to make the friendship ring quite true and charismatic. Richelieu, played by Jack Suitor, was menacingly cunning (and quite hilarious at times), and Molly Vince made Milady both mesmerizingly seductive and dangerous. Rich chemistry and emotional depth enriched the story.
Anchoring the production, the set design featured a large rotating set piece that rotated and
morphed seamlessly into scenes of Parisian streets, royal courts, and secretive hideaways.
Period-correct props and well-placed lighting rounded out the atmosphere, augmenting the action and drama on stage.
The Three Musketeers by MMM was an exciting and professional presentation of one of the best classics. With its highly talented cast, imaginative direction, and great quality of production, the show stood tall to prove the hard work and ingenuity of all concerned.
by Shayne Demchuk
Morinville Community High School
From Gascony to Paris, Mother Margaret Mary takes on the daring adventures of The Three Musketeers. They expertly showcase their students abilities to act, direct, and work behind the scenes. With a cast and crew of around 40 people each person did their part making the show a joy to see.
This play follows D’artagnan (played by Nate Cook) as he works toward his goal of being a Musketeer, alongside his younger sister Sabine (played by Karolina Guzman Smyl.) When he travels to Paris all he has to his name is fifteen crowns, a letter of recommendation to a Mr Treville, captain of the musketeers, his father’s old hat, and his nagging sister. His plans hit a slight snag when he runs into the one eyed man, Rochefort played by Kylie Flanders, who steals his letter with a little help from a certain individual. The Cardinal’s niece M’lady performed by Molly Vince. Without his letter becoming a musketeer may be a little more difficult than he thought. He still has his trusty charm to fall back on, but how far will that get him.
The Three Musketeers isn't a new play, so what makes Mother Margaret Mary’s rendition special? Let’s start off with the original lighting done by Olwen Klug, a student at MMM. With around one hundred and fifty lighting cews, Klug managed to make every scene its own. Whether it be the blood red lights cascading the walls with the Cardinal or the gunshot flash flickering during the war. Other crew members that stood out were the prop design team with leader Anabelle Casavant, the team produced working props for each scene. The most impressive props were the masks used at the masquerade ball.
With two to three people making each mask, they were beautifully authentic. Each mask accompanied the costumes and characters gracefully.
Of course this production would be nothing without the trusted musketeers. Audrey Stroppel, Xavier Dackiw, and Lindelwe Moyo play the brave three musketeers, Athos, Aramis, and Porthos. Stroppel stood out in her role as Athos, every word had me clinging on waiting for her next scene. Moyo had a hilarious part in the show and executed it flawlessly. Her drunken bar scene, while only lasting a few seconds, was a spectacle on its own. Topping off the trio was Dackiew as Aramis, his portrayal of the character was magnificently done. This play would not be complete without the chilling main antagonist. Jack Suitor brings the notorious Cardinal Richelieu to life. Kylie Flanders was in most scenes with Suitor but both still managed to showcase both characters as if they were the only one on stage.
The production was a chivalrous comedy. Filled with amazing acting, historical accuracy, and efficient background work. The team worked together to put on an enthralling production. Mother Margeret Mary’s The Three Musketeers definitely showed us that it was “All for one and One for all.”
by Syenne Ko
Archbishop MacDonald
As the lights dimmed, we were transported to a world filled with adventure, comedy, and a touch of romance. Mother Margaret Mary Catholic High School’s production of The Three Musketeers captivated the audience with their unique spin on the classical piece. This performance showcased their dedication and passion by leaving the audience in awe with their enthralling take on this historical adventure.
Written by Ken Ludwig, this dramatic comedy set in France during the Seventeenth Century follows D'Artagnan (Nate Cook) as he pursues his dream of becoming a musketeer. Along his journey D'Artagnan is joined by three musketeers named Athos (Audrey Stroppel), Aramis (Xavier Dackiew), and Porthos (Lindelwe Moyo). Together they become entangled in political intrigue and court dramas.
Nate Cook who played D'Artagnan received a standing ovation for his outstanding performance. Cook’s performance filled the audience with a plethora of emotions, ranging from joy to sorrow. Karolina Guzman Smyl who played Sabine (D'Artagnan’s sister) was also a delight to watch. Her positivity and determination were simply contagious! The comedic sibling dynamic between Cook and Guzman Smyl was a source of many chuckles throughout the performance. A crucial component of the performance was the tension brought by Jack Suitor who played the conniving antagonist, Cardinal Richelieu. His acting brought great suspense and at many times frightened the audience with his wicked portrayal of Cardinal Richelieu. Another key component of this performance were the fight scenes. The fight scenes were action packed, and the cast did a phenomenal job maintaining the fast-paced atmosphere. The cast of Mother Margaret Mary did fabulous work by bringing a new dimension to this historical piece.
The extensive work done by the technical crew must not be overlooked. This production had over 150 lighting cues and was a key component in the immersive performance. Tori Gatner’s control of lighting was seamless and enhanced the mood of the scenes. Kudos to the costume crew! From gorgeous gowns to handmade masquerade masks, the work of the costume team fully immersed the audience in the historical setting of the play. Another aspect of the production that really stood out was the video created from scratch by Rianna Saint-Martin. This vibrant video played during Athos’ monologue and aided with the understanding of Athos’ words. From the lighting to the costumes to the set, the technical crew added immensely to the depth of the production.
Mother Margaret Mary’s production encapsulated the sentiment of “all for one and one for all” through their impeccable teamwork. From the talented cast to the meticulous technical crew, Mother Margaret Mary’s rendition of The Three Musketeers is not to be missed!
Photo Credit: Megan Dunne @mjmdphotography
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