Sword Play Entices at Los Alamitos
A boy's father is being murdered and the stage is set for revenge
against the Cardinal's men versus the king's men, in Los Alamitos's
rendition of The Three Musketeers. Action, mystery, and romance help
tell the story of a young man's dream of becoming a Musketeer
to avenge his father's untimely death, as well as follow in his foot
steps.
D'Artagnan, played by Geoffrey D'Alessandro, captures the sense of a
younger man attempting to be mature. He clearly shows his awkward
clumsiness when interacting with the ladies; especially Constance,
played by Nicole Hughes, who shows her attraction for him
quiet clearly throughout the production. Even so, D'Artagnan gains his
strength every time he is confronted by anyone with a jousting stick,
his combat skills bring excitement and intrigue to the audience. His
greatest opponent being the one-eyed man, Rochefort
played by Pierce Baird, who happens to be Cardinal Richelieu's, played
by Ryan Woyshner, best man and the person who killed his father. The
fighting coordinators manage to create thrilling fight scenes, which the
actors use to help create the interesting story
line. Another major alliance of the Cardinal's is Lady de Winter, played
by Emmy Ross, who flawlessly changes her persona from innocent to
deadly within the time it takes to unveil her concealed weapons.
Surprisingly enough, she happens to be married to one
of the Musketeers; Athos, played by Thomas N. Flores III, who sentenced
her to death and only recently discovered her condition, which is that
she, is in fact, not dead. Athos's character is quiet and forgiving and
therefore chooses not to reveal his secret
to his partners: Porthos, played by James Chafee, and Aramis, played by
Steven Harrington. The pair has great awareness of each other's movement
in the space, and their comedic timing is impeccable.
The cast overall is entertaining and in sync with each other's actions;
especially the ensemble members. Most notably are the Prisoner, played
by John McDonnell, and the Duke of Buckingham, played by Max Block,
guards, they do not interfere with the Duke's
moment of spotlight as he steals laughs from the audience; their
performance is a example of a well performed ensemble. Not only does the
cast portray the scenes well, but so does the costuming; the outfits
fit the time period and add a certain quality to the
moment of the actors. Together they create an enticing show, which
amused the audience lured in by the stunning marketing and publicity of
the students, until the final bows.
by Anaheim
--------------------------------------------------
A little boy watches in horror as his crippled father is brutally
murdered in front of him, instilling in him a deep desire to become a
musketeer and seek revenge. So begins Los Alamitos’s production of The
Three Musketeers.
As years pass, the little boy develops into a strong young man and
leaves his hometown to travel to Paris. Along the way, he meets the last
three remaining musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Together, they
work to save lives and expose the evilness of
some characters.
Geoffrey D’Alessandro plays D’Artagnan, the young and brave fighter.
D’Alessandro makes a nice transition from being hopeless to being full
of confidence. He shows how he is sure of himself by adopting a strong
stance and confident posture. D’Alessandro uses
his voice tones to show how he respects the three musketeers, and looks
up to them as older brothers.
Emmy Ross plays Lady De Winter; her craftiness and ability to deceit
people are shown through her facial expressions. The audience starts off
believing that she is an honest lady who wants to help the Protestants,
but later quickly realizes that she is in fact
a double-faced woman who secretly works for the Cardinal. Ross
effectively develops her character throughout the show, her entire
demeanor shows the audience that she knows she is a dangerous character,
and she enjoys having the other characters afraid of her.
The relationship between her and Athos (Thomas N. Flores III) shows the
audience how their past has made them into who they are now.
Rochefort (Pierce Baird) plays the part of a villain convincingly,
through his strong voice and forceful presence. Although some characters
have trouble enunciating and articulating, Baird’s voice is always
clearly heard. Baird develops the mannerism of being
a demanding, heartless villain in the beginning of the play, and
consistently keeps to it throughout the show.
Costumes are designed by Grace Kim, and they fit both the time period
and individual personalities of the characters; Rochefort and Lady De
Winter always wears dark colors, while D’Artagnan and Constance always
wears light colors.
Los Alamitos’s The Three Musketeers is a cleverly created production
that will leave audience members remembering the phrase, "all for one,
one for all."
by Aliso Niguel
--------------------------------------------------
Enjoyment for all in Los Alamitos’ The Three Musketeers
Daring sword fights, romance, and evil plots. Heroic acts, sly twists,
and brotherhood. You can see all of these things in Alexander Dumas’s
The Three Musketeers at Los Alamitos High School.
This classic novel come-to-life depicts the story of young D’Artagnan,
who aspires to follow in his father’s footsteps and be one of the French
King’s Musketeers. He meets trouble along the way, for the Musketeers
has just been disbanded by Cardinal Richelieu.
With his plot to stop Cardinal Richelieu’s plans to overthrow the King,
and restore the Musketeers, D‘Artagnan sets off on a journey, and falls
in love along the way.
The passion and ferocity of the cast shone in their many action-packed
scenes, choreographed beautifully by Danielle Lizotte, who also played
Marie. The stunt crew was featured in many scenes, and they demonstrated
impeccable knowledge of each individual scene’s
choreography, with few noticeable slip-ups.
Lady Dewinter, played by Emmy Ross, captured the essence of the “bad
guy” in this play. As Cardinal Richelieu’s assistant and assassin, she
uses her trickery to fool not only the other characters, but the
audience as well. Ross commanded the attention onstage
with her fluid movement and impressive interaction.
Another strong character was Rochefort, played by Pierce Baird. As the
murderer of D’Artagnan’s father, Rochefort works to wipe out the
remaining Musketeers. Baird’s menacing voice ruled the stage, instilling
fear in the audience. His sword fight ing skills
were fantastic and real, convincing the audience that his every strike
was forceful and meaningful.
The French castle scene was largely detailed, and wowed the audience
with its transition into a street pub. On either side of the stage,
small scenes were meant to show intimate scenes between 2-4 people.
Although beautiful music was used to cover up transitions
in the blackouts, the intricacy of the scene took a while to set up,
leaving the audience a little uncomfortable.
The costumes used were appropriate to the French 16th century, and
accurately represented each character. Constance, a sweet young girl who
falls in love with D’Artagnan, is clothed in bright colors, with light
and airy skirts. Inversely, Lady Dewinter wears
an innocent slave girl’s garb as she fools a prisoner in revealing his
secrets. Later, who true colors are shown as she wears a black,
seductive dress.
The many twists and turns in The Three Musketeers left the audience
constantly in awe. The impressive ability of the actors created a
compelling world, and the skill shown by the stunt crew was amazing. Los
Alamitos took on this challenge, and turned it into
a very fun, entertaining show.
by Aliso Niguel
--------------------------------------------------
The Three Musketeers is a joy for one and a joy for all!
Marked by tragedy, trickery, and impressive, intense swordfights, Los
Alomitos High School’s retelling of the tale, “The Three Musketeers” is a
beautiful take on an age-old tale.
The story begins in 17th century France in a small cobblestone home,
where a young D’Artagnon defends his father’s honor by courageously
slashing an intimidating Rochefort’s face, who responds by stabbing the
old man, resulting in his death. D’Artagnon grows
to travel France in seek of becoming a Musketeer, just as his father
was. In a humorous scene D’Artagnon manages to challenge all three
musketeers in the facility to duels, eventually befriending them and
accompanying them on their expedition to protect the
king of France.
With a gorgeous setting and purposed crew, Los Alamitos High school’s
production is dramatic and complex. Amid fascinating characters and
beautiful choreography, it is difficult to look away from the stage.
Despite the obstacle of describing such a detailed plot, the production
has an extraordinary amount of exciting scenes. The second a sword is
wielded, the thrill of the audience is palpable. The swordfighters dance
around the stage, perfectly executing powerful
choreography. Lady de Winter, played by Emmy Ross, has a lively scene
with Athos (Thomas N. Flores III) in which their battle of swords
falters as they land in intimate positions, all to a sultry, modern
French song.
The commitment Emmy Ross shows to her role is captivating as she follows
the mannerisms of her seductive character. At one point, she fools a
prisoner into thinking she has come to aid him and seems to surprise the
entire theater when she turns around and stabs
him, tucking the knife neatly into her promiscuous black corset.
Rochefort (Pierce Baird) displayed acting way being his age.
Los Alamitos High School’s production is one of beauty and passion, that is visually glorious and emotionally stirring.
by Aliso Niguel
--------------------------------------------------
All for one and one for all at Los Alamitos High
The efforts of an original script and large cast, the Los Alamitos High
School production of “The Three Musketeers” is full of adventure,
comedy, and romance.
Following a young man by the name of D’Artagnan (Geoffrey D’Alessandro),
who wishes to avenge his father’s death and become a Musketeer, the
audience plays witness to a war-wrought France after a corrupt Cardinal
has disbanded the king’s esteemed guard, the
famed Musketeers. The remains of this group must fight down the
Cardinal’s men and uncover a vicious plot for the throne, performing
their duty to their king and country.
The script, an original by the play’s director, is brought to life by a
pristine set, the professional costumes, and the lively cast. By far the
stand-out aspect of the play is the choreography of the fight scenes,
arranged by a student, Danielle Lizotte, complete
with true fencing rapiers and realistic deaths, especially in the
collapses.
Many of the actors perform with specific physical mannerisms, such as
Lady De Winter’s (Emmy Ross) seductive movements, commanding attention
with not only her feminine wiles, but her venomous tough side
underneath. Another stand-out is Rochefort, whose strong
presence and remarkable professionalism draws in the audience, despite
his obvious evil and corruption. Pierce Baird embodied the role with his
lilting walk and arrogant tone, a powerful antagonist through and
through.
The ensemble as a whole puts forth an impeccable performance. The
background conversation and movements have a high level of professional
realism, keeping the focus without appearing dull. Each ensemble member
holds many roles throughout the show, yet they
manage to still give many distinct personalities or character types.
Between numerous costume changes and fight scenes to work through, the
ensemble drastically increases the skilled and polished appearance of
the show. Enunciation and a bit of stuttering seem
to be an issue for some cast members, but each recovers well from any
mishaps.
The technical crew helps bring the show to life, with three separate
stage areas, each with distinct background and props, including small
touches like a false rat in a dungeon. The costumes are elegant and
historically accurate, designed by Grace Kim. The
lighting team gives a solid performance, keeping the intended focus.
While transitions seem too numerous and take too long, the set crew
seems to move with purpose and themed music helps to set the tone for
the upcoming scene. Another impressive aspect is the
publicity, which included a fast-paced trailer and detailed posters from
Steven Harrington and Todd Maginn.
Despite some difficulties, “The Three Musketeers” delivers multiple
stand-out performances and highlights. With beautiful aesthetics and
enthralling fencing scenes, the Los Alamitos cast and crew put forth
fine work and plenty of adventure.
by Aliso Niguel
--------------------------------------------------
Action, Adventure, and the French at Los Alamitos
It is France in the eighteenth century, the country is at war and the
monarchy is being overruled by the church and terrorized by the church’s
soldiers. The knights of the king appeared to have been disbanded
forever until a young man, the son of a farmer comes
to avenge his father’s death, and amongst his journey he meets 3 men who
assist him in finding the man who killed his father and saving the
king’s life. This is the original production of The Three Musketeers at
Los Alamitos High School.
The play revolves around the young man D’Artagnan (Geoffrey
D’Alessandro) whose determination to avenge the death of his father,
inspires him to become a Musketeer. D’Alessandro fascinates the audience
with his superior fencing skills and the fiery determination
he emotes when he fights, but also his awkwardness around women reveals
D’Artagnan’s innocence and reminds the audience how young he truly is.
Rochefort (Pierce Baird), the man who killed D’Artagnan’s father, steals
the show with his praiseworthy performance. Baird brilliantly portrays
the inner evil of Rochefort, both with his superior, yet cruel tone of
which he speaks, and his posture which emits
the evil brewing inside of his; plus his intensity is very believable.
He too, has distinctive fencing abilities, and gives a striking
performance when he fights D’Artagnan.
Another unforgettable performance is done by Emmy Ross, who plays Lady
DeWinter. At first her gentleness and caring appears as goodness as she
tends to the wounds of a prisoner, but almost within the same moment she
completely shocks the audience by stabbing
the prisoner and revealing an inner heartlessness as her tone of voice
changes into one of malice and greed.
The 3 Musketeers themselves, played by James Chafee, Steven Harrington,
and Thomas N. Flores III, each play off each other’s qualities and
communicate a deep camaraderie between them. The featured roles of Kitty
and Treville both affect the hearts of the audience
with the actor’s incredible outbursts of fear, anger, and sadness
emitted through their words and by their physical weakness.
The choreography, created by student Danielle Lizotte, deserves
recognition as it is by far the most visually thrilling part of the
play, filled with large amounts of sword-fighting, punches, and kicks,
that leave the audience dazzled and their hearts racing.
Although some of the characters didn’t perform their lines very clearly,
when it came to fighting they performed with excellence and confidence.
The 3 Musketeers deserves recognition for its exciting performance, and memorable cast, that didn’t fail to please.
by Aliso Niguel
--------------------------------------------------
All For One And One For All
En garde! Prepare to meet your maker at Los Alamitos High School’s steel splitting production of The Three Musketeers!
The story of The Three Musketeers follows a young boy named
D’artagnan (Geoffrey D’Alessandro) who aspires to join the recently
disbanded kings guards, The Musketeers, to carry on his murdered
father’s legacy and avenge his death. On his journey, he
meets Athos (Thomas N. Flores III), Porthos (James Chaffee), and Aramis
(Steven Harrington), three surviving members of the Musketeers who
admire his innate skill. Together, they stop the attempted murder of
King Louis (Paul Scott) and regain the throne’s trust
once more.
The production is filled with combat, brilliantly choreographed
by Danielle Lizotte. The combat, never repetitive, ranges from ear
splitting slaps toward Kitty (Danielle Massey) to clashing encounters
between Lady Dewinter (Emmy Ross) and a team of
three experienced swordsmen.
D’Aartagnan (Geoffrey D’Allesandro) undergoes a visible
character transformation from a belligerent boy, challenging every man
on the street to duel, to a real man, drinking and cracking jokes with
the guys. His rival, Rochefort (Pierce Baird), realistically
portrays a swordsman, keeping proper form with hand on his side or
behind his back. Baird maintains a well-defined, constant character
throughout the production, especially as he mercilessly murders Treville
(Ryan Rogers) and Bernard (Gregory Spradling). Lady
De Winter (Emmy Ross) employs a realistic performance of a tortured
murderer out to make a quick buck. Ross deceives a prisoner to garner
information about the protestant revolution, honestly portraying a
charitable, loving servant, only to reveal her sly,
devious identity. Ross’s trickery conveys a truly evil character, while
her contrast of a sincere, loving woman is truly believable even while
knowing her true intentions.
Though Queen Anne (Claire Miller) did not receive significant
stage time, she creates a memorable character. Whether boldly making the
decisions in government, or leading the waltz at her husband’s birthday
party, Miller portrays an authoritative character.
Los Alamitos High School’s performance of The Three Musketeers is “one for all!”
by Aliso Niguel
--------------------------------------------------
A thrilling and exciting adventure throughout the world of 17th century
France, topped off with sword fights, gunshots, trickery and romance.
This is the journey that ensues through a fresh, new retelling of a
classic story known around the world and adored
by many. And it is performed right here at Los Alamitos High School in
their production of The Three Musketeers.
Based on the 19th century novel by Alexandre Dumas, the story follows a
young boy's desire of joining the legendary chivalrous fighting force,
aptly named the Three Musketeers, after witnessing the death of his
father. Arriving in Paris, our protagonist D'artagnan
encounters his father's murderer and comes across his three heroes, soon
joining them in an attempt to save the Duke of Buckingham and their
country of France from death and corruption.
The show is brought to life by a multitude of standout actors who
physically embody their characters to convey true emotions throughout
the progression of the story. Anchored by a strong and talented
supporting cast, this production, with an original script
by director Taryn Stenberg, creates a profound connection between its
characters, never disappointing with its constant twists and surprises.
Geoffrey D'Alessandro, who plays the role of D'artagnan, achieves a
highly impressive performance as a sly, determined hero with his spot-on
character choices and humorous charm, such as his somewhat clumsy but
confident conversation with his love interest
Constance. D'artagnan's most hated enemy, Rochefort is played by Pierce
Baird, arguably the most awe-inspiring actor in this production. As the
story's true villain, Baird intensely portrays an amazing evil-minded
persona, strutting the stage like a lion stalking
its prey, with his strong, resounding voice that resonates a chill of
darkness, making him one of the best aspects of the production.
An essential asset to the deceptive and vicious nature of evil is Emmy
Ross's thrilling representation of Lady De Winter, who most develops her
performance as she transitions from a kind, innocent girl to a deadly
and mischievous villain who is hired to kill
England's Duke of Buckingham. Most of the comedic effect of the show
comes from the mingling of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, our Three
Musketeers, respectfully played by Thomas N. Flores III, James Chaffee,
and Steven Harrington, who all possess incredible comedic
timing that helps carry the show by never allowing a dull moment on
stage.
The show's choreographer Danielle Lizotte does a superb job at creating
complex sword fights and a kind of “organized chaos” that gives the show
a powerful punch of action, never allowing empty space on stage with
her army of stage combat soldiers with very
impressive fencing backgrounds. Some scenes in the course of the show
were slower and drawn-out, but the energy of the whole cast as an
ensemble compensated very well. A few minor characters lacked purpose
and emotion, though it did not necessarily disrupt
the fluidity of the performance.
Los Alamitos's production of The Three Musketeers is a solid and
fun-filled experience that overcomes many difficult hurdles to make this
show a standout among the world of high school theater.
by Aliso Niguel
--------------------------------------------------
The Cardinal Strikes Again At Los Alamitos
A vengeful son, ambitious to the end meets the undefeatable Three
Musketeers, their calling leading to protection of the King. Though as
the story unfolds, it becomes revealed that one man stands in the way of
them: the devious Cardinal Richelieu(Ryan Woyshner).
The story starts off with great intensity, the murder of D’Artagnan’s
father firing the ambition burning within his soul. D’Artagnan
(Geoffrey D’Alessandro) shows this perfectly throughout the story,
showing a progression within character and a vengeful passion
that reveals itself even more around Rochefort. Rochefort (Pierce
Baird) shows clear dimensions within his character and an antagonistic,
undefeatable disposition that is unforgettable to the audience’s eye.
The ensemble adapts well to the scenes, adding a vibrancy to each
circumstance. They have excellent comedic timing; each joke filling the
room with laughter. When it comes to the suspense and the conflict,
the ensemble adds color and clarity, their physicality’s
warming the stage with exhilaration. Articulation at times becomes
fuzzy, but ensemble as a whole clarifies any mistaken misconceptions
about what is being said through their commitment to character and
storyline. Their stage business reveals a great sense
of each persona’s individual objective without detracting from the main
character’s points.
The Three Musketeers hold distinct quirky personalities as they venture
through Paris. Their individual persona’s come together to create the
enjoyment and ambition of this performance. From Athos’(Thomas N.
Flores III) stubborn disposition, to Porthos’(James
Chaffee) and Aramis’(Steven Harrington) impeccable comedic timing.
Bonded together with their new pal D’Artagnan, they hold the story
together and lead it to victory.
Lady Dewinter(Emmy Ross) fools the audience; her kind and sincere
attitude towards the prisoner, soon overthrown with her insidious true
self being. She has exquisite character shifts and growth within the
prisoner scene and throughout the play, in the end
finding herself back in the arms of Athos and sealing their final
encounter with a kiss and a goodbye. The relationships between them
both becomes the strongest until the end.
The choreographed sword fighting is stunning and believable. Rapiers
clashing against one another as the clang between each sword builds the
intensity of the moment. Without fail the sword fights excel as the
highlight of the performance as they bring an
excitement and thrill, leaving one on the edge of their seat. All For
One and One for All. Los Alamitos clearly succeeds.
by Anaheim
--------------------------------------------------
One for all and all for one at Los Alamitos High School
Love, honor, courage and friendship never die when you are a musketeer.
In this new original written play of The Three Musketeers by Patrick and
Taryn Stenberg, you travel to a distant time period filled with
surprises.
The publicity teamwork between Steve Harrington, Natalie Gennaoui, Todd
Maginn, Max Block and Thomas N. Flores III shows exceptionally well. For
starters the posters have a black musketeer figure that is covered with
collages of pictures of the play. The pictures
themselves are simple yet the formation, design, and cropping done to
integrate the pictures into the body of the musketeer is what catches
the eye of the audience. The preview which is a trailer for this play
adds suspense through the use of music changes,
background lightning, and settings. This type of quality work that
intrigues and captures the attention of the audience can only
demonstrate the hard work and collaboration done by the publicity team.
The creative, the detail, and the color schemes of the costume attire of
each character demonstrates the great grasp of idea of the costume
design team (Brianna Jean-Jacques, Grace Kim, Haley Schutzenberger, Ryan
Rogers, Serena O’Sullivan, Shanice Douglas,
Victoria Townsend). The costumes of each character not only refer back
to the Renaissance Era but they also relate to the characters persona.
Constance (Nicole Hughes) who is a nice girl yet defensive wears most of
the time colorful bright dresses. Her dresses
include combined colors of brown, yellow, baby blue, others that give a
sense of a young yet growing independent woman. Lady Dewinter (Emmy
Ross) is an evil, corrupt, and above all a murderer. Her attire is
mostly filled with dark colors. The most noticeable
one is the one with the black top and dark green bottom with ripped
black straps of fabric from the waist down to the bottom of the dress.
From the publicity to the costumes and to the actual play you will find
yourself enjoying every part this production of The Three Musketeers has
to offer.
by Anaheim
--------------------------------------------------
Swords Clash at Los Al
Kings and Queens, sword fights, secret passage ways, it all sounds like a
story right out of a history book, however Los Al brought these to life
with their original writing of The Three Musketeers.
The play takes place in France during the reign of King Louis. The Kings
most trusted fighters, the musketeers, have just been disbanded and
sent to the front lines. When a young man comes to town aspiring to be a
Musketeer, he gathers the remaining Musketeers
and quickly runs into trouble. He fights alongside the Musketeers and
tries to help save the king from the cardinal and his crafty friends.
From the magnificent thrown room of King Louis, to the tiniest rat in
the dungeon, the incredible set design is so life-like it makes you feel
like you are actually a part of the action, not merely a spectator.
The actors put life into the story with their era appropriate costumes
and their great stage presence. Some standout performances include Lady
DeWinter (Emmy Ross), Kitty (Danielle Massey), and Rochefort (Pierce
Baird). Ross has a great stage presence and a
sort of natural believability throughout the entire show. Baird takes
charge of the stage and acts with authority, unlike Massey whose
compelling performance of the timid servant girl makes you feel her
emotions, and empathy for her.
The shows sword fighting and action scenes, choreographed by Danielle
Lizotte, were greatly planned and are wonderfully executed which
completes the show. Los Alamitos also had great publicity for this show
including a video trailer which captures your attention
and makes you want to watch the play.
Although the cast stumbled over their lines a little, their level of
emotion made up for it. The show leaves you with the feeling of unity
and that famous saying, “All for one and one for all.”
by Brethren Christian
--------------------------------------------------
Many have made their own attempt at recreating the classic adventure
tale of 1844 called “The Three Musketeers.” Los Alamitos High School
does just that, and it is quite inspiring.
The dark and suspenseful show is accompanied by grand sets of throne
rooms and dungeon cells. The actors in the stunt team clink their swords
in intense battle scenes, choreographed by Danielle Lizotte. Kitty
(Danielle Massey) is the young faithful servant
girl of Treville (Ryan Rogers). Massey wins the sympathy of the audience
in her excellent performance. Her outbursts and tears are very
realistic and moving. Lady DeWinter (Emmy Ross) is the crafty seductress
who fools everyone into thinking she’s goodhearted.
Her sword fighting is exceptional and surprising. Rochefort (Pierce
Baird) is the murderer and spy. Baird’s performance is consistent and
powerful. His mannerisms, along with Ross’, are spot-on.
The costuming is very accurate to the time period. Each piece seems to
reflect the character of each person. The hair and makeup are very
realistic and imaginative. The actors in the background do a fantastic
job of keeping busy and rather than distracting
from the main scene, they complement it. At times the lines of some
actors are hard to understand because the yelling is too loud, but most
of the lines are easy to understand and enjoy,
Los Alamitos High School does an excellent job of entertaining an audience with great stage combat and fun characters.
by Brethren Christian
--------------------------------------------------
“The Three Musketeers” Brings Passion and Adventure to Los Alamitos High School
Those who seek quiet, uneventful evenings would be hard-put to find one
at Los Alamitos High School, where flashing rapiers and tangled love and
murder plots abound. Here, “The Three Musketeers” has been brought to
life by the high school’s energetic drama
department.
Originally a novel by Alexandre Dumas, “The Three Musketeers” is set in
17th-century France and centers on the adventures of d’Artagnan, a boy
who aspires to be one of the king’s musketeers. In the adaptation unique
to Los Alamitos High School, poor but skilled
d’Artagnan travels to Paris to enlist as a musketeer, unaware that they
have been recently disbanded due to the influence of the Cardinal over
King Louis. D’Artagnan meets three of the surviving musketeers, Athos,
Porthos, and Aramis, and together they uncover
a plot by the Cardinal and his henchmen to murder the Duke of Buckingham
and the French king. The four, along with d’Artagnan’s love interest,
Constance, must stop the Cardinal from becoming the tyrant ruler of
France.
The story features many complex characters including Lady deWinter, a
flirtatious and haughty murderess played by Emmy Ross, Porthos’ sassy
love interest Marie, played by Danielle Lizotte, and the admirably
realistic servant Kitty, played by Danielle Massey.
Also memorable are the performances of the French prisoner and the
comedy of the Duke of Buckingham. Despite some performers’ lack of
enunciation, the characters’ meanings are shown in their movement and
tone of voice. Many performers express good understanding
of their character as a whole.
Much sword fighting takes place throughout the play and creates an
exciting atmosphere. Actors and actresses alike prove their skill in
fencing, and in one instance a fight that morphs into a tango takes
place between Lady deWinter and Athos. The actors and
actresses invest notable energy into their performance.
Sets, props, and costuming bring to life the world of “The Three
Musketeers.” Designs for characters’ outfits are well-chosen, and sets
show complexity and creativity in their design, including a realistic
throne room with a back corridor.
A unique and creative production, Los Alamitos High School’s “The Three
Musketeers” proves a challenging but entertaining production.
by Brethren Christian
--------------------------------------------------
No duel too large for Los Alamitos
“All for one, one for all” coins the classic trio in Alexander Dumas’s
“Three Musketeers.” This timeless classic details a young man’s quest to
avenge his father’s death, in which he learns the value of friendship,
loyalty, and love. Through Taryn Stenberg’s
original adaptation of “The Three Musketeers,” Los Alamitos High School
captures the essence of this beloved tale.
Geoffrey D’Alessandro as the hot-headed and ambitious D’Artagnan
embodies the spirit of youth with his whimsical voice and constant
puppy-dog facial expressions. In contrast, D’Artagan’s foe, Rochefort
(Pierce Baird) is sinister and scheming due to his menacing
glances and centered physicality. This stark contrast between the
characterizations of the two central characters facilitates the
understanding of the show and makes the show increasingly enjoyable.
Danielle Lizotte also entertains and impressively commands the stage
through her witty and distinct portrayal of sassy and smart-mouthed
Marie. From raising her eyebrows in a quizzical and unimpressed manner
to expressing her disapproval by rolling her eyes,
Lizotte creates a dynamic and memorable performance although her stage
time is limited.
As a whole, the efforts of the cast is captivating, especially at the
comical moments of the show. The diverse delivery of the lines garners
laughs, even at times when the lines are lost due to diction.
From sharp rolls to vigorous leaps, Danielle Lizotte’s stunt
choreography effectively and realistically represents the dueling of the
seventeenth century. As the actors wielding rapiers regress into
battling via hand-to-hand combat, the dynamics and believability
of the dueling heightens. The stunt choreography culminates during a
fight sequence that combines saucy tango dancing with brawling. This
innovative and creative blending of the two creates tension and suspense
within the scene and gives the show a pleasing,
fast-paced feel.
Just as the characters in “The Three Musketeers” unite with one another
to defeat the forces of evil, the cast and crew of Los Alamitos’s
production combine their efforts to create a delightful show and teach
the importance of “all for one, one for all.”
by Fountain Valley
--------------------------------------------------
“The Three Musketeers” reunite in Los Alamitos
Intense melodies fill the theater as the spotlight illuminates the home
of young D’Artagnan. Abruptly, Rochefort dressed all in black, barges in
and murders D’Artagnan’s father for the boy’s actions, resulting in
Rochefort’s intimidating eye patch.
“The Three Musketeers” tells the tale of a French farm boy, D’Artagnan,
who vows to join the King’s Guards and don the royal blue Musketeer
cape, just like his father. Once in Paris, however, he learns the
Musketeers have been disbanded. So on his quest to
become one, he meets the final three musketeers (Athos, Porthos, and
Aramis), falls in love, avenges his father’s death, and must save King
Louis. An epic portrayal of a journey seeking love, adventure, and
retaliation, “The Three Musketeers” abounds with impressive
stunts and daring sword fights; fun for the whole family!
Pierce Baird commands the stage as Rochefort, an ominous, domineering,
and just plain evil minion of Cardinal Richelieu. By far the most
experienced performer, Baird fills the role with such authenticity and
genuine emotion. A flawless performance with ease,
Baird creates a larger-than-life persona; a truly gifted actor.
Steven Harrington as Aramis is definitely the most physical of the Three
Musketeers, performing several startling stunts onstage. Adding a great
amount of comic relief, Harrington earns laughs with every line.
Starring in a role that seems to be effortless,
Harrington’s performance is not to be missed.
Danielle Lizotte contributes a refreshing aspect of sarcasm as Marie.
Combating each of Porthos’ fantastical lies with witty remarks, her
early appearance in the play keeps the audience wanting more. An
effective portrayal of a skeptic, Lizotte earns the audience’s
approval and love.
The fight scenes, choreographed by Danielle Lizotte, capture all the
adventure and danger without any flaws. These epic moments, paired with
equally epic music, enrapture the audience with all the skill and
techniques required in fencing. Top-notch coordination
results in a stupendous production and represents the essence of “The
Three Musketeers.”
A professional-quality trailer, creative and enticing poster and program
designs, and even a sneak preview on school grounds greet the patrons
of this splendid production. The outstanding marketing and publicity
team, led by Steven Harrington and Todd Maginn,
raises the bar for excitement and anticipation.
Los Alamitos High School performs an original script, written by Patrick
and Taryn Stenberg, for their production of “The Three Musketeers,”
which ultimately depicts this glorious story in great detail. The cast
and crew incredibly embody the phrase, “All for
One and One for All!”
by Fountain Valley
--------------------------------------------------
Spirit of adventure takes over at Los Alamitos
A gripping tale of romance, a quest for glory, and friendship, The Three
Musketeers enchants the stage. A strong cast depicts the story in a
jolly and witty fashion that entertains. All the attention gripping
elements such as the costumes, stunt choreography
along with the technical elements such as lighting create a lovely,
pleasant show.
The Musketeers is a classic novel written by Alexandre Dumas that was
originally published in 1844. Told in a refreshing style, thanks to the
original script written by the director, the buoyant story setting is in
France after the King’s guard of Musketeers
has been sent to fight on the front lines against England. A young boy
then goes on a quest to become a musketeer himself and makes friends
along the way with a along with catching a little spice of romance.
The otherworldly quality the transposes the play into France to Orange
County is a defining trait of this show. The quirky different characters
create a frivolous setting that is exciting to behold and the plot
twists in the show keeps the air of mystery in
the air. The cast adds an extra effective energy the helps to support
overall humor of the show.
The malevolent, calculating Rochefort (Pierce Baird) commands a
tenacious presence. Rochefort plays mature depiction of dynamic villain
who is relatable. Lady Dewinter (Emmy Ross) is entrancing with her
smart, firm, and seductive portrayal of the crafty assassin.
D’Artagnan (Geoffrey D’Alessandro) is enjoyable on stage.
The Three Musketeers, Athos (Thomas N. Flores III), Aramis (Steven
Harrington), and Porthos (James Chafee), come across as a cohesive unit
each complementing their character’s different personalities to create a
unique ensemble. Though the pronunciation of
some of the cast could at times be indiscernible, the cast’s overall
energy is remarkably dazzling. Kitty (Danielle Massey) and Duke of
Buckingham each add individual bright spots that contribute to the
overall entertainment of the show.
The technical aspects of the show, including the choreography (Danielle
Lizotte) and costumes (Grace Kim) give the show an impressive,
mesmerizing quality. The riveting sword scenes fighting bring a
thrilling effect to the show. The innovative sword fights
helps stimulate senses like the spicy, velvet scene between the lovers
Athos and Lady Dewinter. The costumes are also time appropriate and keep
the adventurous mood of the show while providing extra insight into
each of the character’s personalities such as
the all black battle outfit of the villain Rochefort.
Los Alamitos’s show is amusing, clever, and jovial show that brings the
adventurous story to life. It is a truly enjoyable show for the whole
family to see and brings together many technical elements that add to
the overall quality of the play.
by Orange Lutheran
--------------------------------------------------
The Three Musketeers steals the show at Los Alamitos
Daring sword fights, beautiful maidens, villainous plots and handsome
musketeers come together to sweep audiences away in the Los Alamitos
production of The Three Musketeers. This original adaptation of
Alexander Dumas’ classic novel jumps to life on stage
with an array of intense action, slight comedy and fiery romance.
Young D’artagnan, a farm boy by background, has a dream to become a
Royal Musketeer. His father was killed by the evil Rochefort, the
corrupt Cardinal’s head mercenary, and now D’artagnan travels to Paris
to join the Musketeers and live out his dream. However,
upon his arrival, he discovers that the famous protectors have been
disbanded by the King, and as he uncovers a plot against His Highness,
meets three of the remaining Musketeers. This unlikely foursome risks
life and limb to protect the King while proving
that they indeed deserve to be called Musketeers.
Geoffrey D’Alessandro, portraying the hero D’artagnan, enraptures
audiences with the boyish yet courageous traits that he brings to his
character. As D’artagnan, he rises with moments of maturity and bravery
when it counts, though also girl-shy and somewhat
clumsy at times, bringing depth to the character that the audience can
instantly fall in love with.
Alongside D’Alessandro, the rest of the cast lights up the stage with
their genuine effort. The Three Muskateers, Athos (Thomas N. Flores
III), Porthos (James Chaffee), and Aramis (Steven Harrington) display an
effortless brotherhood that compliments each other
whenever they are on stage. Their comedic bantering lightens the mood,
but the trio also brings serious and heartfelt moments to the stage as
well.
Pierce Baird portrays the villain Rochefort with impressive maturity and
acting skills far past his years. He commands a powerful stage presence
every moment he is in front of the curtain, convincing the audience of
his realistic performance.
Intensity, fluidity and beauty are the only words to describe the
complicated and thrilling sword fights throughout the production. The
cast executed each parry and block with such precision, the fights
themselves did not look staged. Sparks flew even between
the actors as their emotions seemed to fluctuate every time they
sparred. Spotlight effects during these scenes created a movie-like
effect that drew the eye to important and heart-racing moments. To add
to the tension, action soundtracks accompanied both the
fights and the scene changes to set the mood and enhance the overall
performance.
The Three Musketeers enchants, thrills and captivates, intertwining an
exceptional plot and epic sword fights to create a timeless story of
action and loyalty. The maturity and depth brought by the cast along
with the effective technical aspects makes for an
overall fun-filled night, leaving audience members on the edge of their
seats.
by Orange Lutheran
--------------------------------------------------
All for One and One for All Rings True at Los Alamitos High School
As a child D’Artagnan (Luke Lizotte) witnessed the brutal stabbing of
his father by Rochefort (Pierce Baird) with his mother. From that day
one, the older D’Artagnan (Geoffrey D’Alessandro) grew up longing to
embody the moral and physicality of a Musketeer.
At Los Alamitos High School, Geoffrey D’Alessandro does just that.
Written by Patrick and Taryn Stenberg, the 3 Musketeers is brought to a
new, modern light with a carefully sculpted script and a skillfully
picked cast. D’Alessandro embodies the amazing character depth and
transformation from an anxiously little boy to a full
blown musketeer. Character choices from Lady Dewinter( Emmy Ross) and
Cardinal Richelieu (Ryan Woyshner) are grace the stage as they capture
the audience with their tongue and cheek moments. Lady Dewinter’s
character was fully executed from the tips of her
fingers ready to stab someone to her lightly paced feet that gracefully
lead her into great combat scenes. Cardinal Richelieu was excellent in
his sly demeanor and intentions that were expressed solely verbally, but
physically.
As for the Three Musketeers, the cast of the three men spoke with clear
diction and spice that livened up the show after slow set changes. The
chemistry was inevitable to observe as the three of the them
courageously fought and naturally interacted with each
other. The actors played off of one another’s skill to benefit the show
as a whole. The choreography between the Three Musketeers and the Marie
(Danielle Lizotte) was amazing in that the blows and hits appeared
realistic in that sympathy was spouted for the
supposedly injured ensemble cast.
Scenes such as the stabbing of the Prisoner (John McDonnel) and the love
connection between Athos (Thomas N. Flores III) and Lady Dewinter left
the audience reeling for more information about the characters and the
story line. Heart-renching moment accurately
define the Los Alamitos High School production
by Tri-School
--------------------------------------------------
All for One and One for Los Al!!!
Los Alamitos’ musketeers storm the stage to defy staggering, one-sided
odds. As swords dance with lethal grace, villains become victims in
breathtaking displays of athleticism and swordsmanship. Unparalleled in
dueling, the musketeers face the grim reality
that the deadliest enemies are the ones that can’t be beaten with
swords.
Treville (Ryan Rogers), captain of the musketeers, learns this the hard
way while downing tankards and drowning sorrow. After the king disbands
his guards, Treville spirals into an inebriated darkness. Rogers’
volatile confrontations and pensive brooding capture
the anguish and anger of a man betrayed by the one he has sworn to
protect. Treville is not alone, though, in grappling with demons.
D’Artagnan (Geoffrey D’Alessandro) and the three musketeers, Athos
(Thomas N. Flores III), Aramis (Steven Harrington), and Porthos
(James Chaffee), tackle ghosts from their pasts while questing to save
the king.
The four flawless fighters prove their dueling prowess against the
ten-member Stunt Team. Matching them blow for blow and maintaining the
breakneck pace, the Stunt Team pushes them to the limit in each
demanding round of stage combat choreographed by Danielle
Lizotte. Each actor and actress arms themselves with grace, agility, and
high stamina. Their tumbling and physicality is as stunning as the
effortlessness with which they wield their weapons.
Emmy Ross, the sultry Lady De Winter, is a femme fatale who never lets
murder interfere with style. Grace Kim designed Emmy's costumes to
represent the assassin's immorality while allowing full movement and the
concealment of weapons. Ryan Woyshner, her not-so-saintly
employer, Cardinal Richelieu, taints his obsequious mannerisms with
sarcasm. Ever reverencing the king with a mocking half-bow, Woyshner’s
Richelieu is cloying and manipulative.
Thrilling swordfights, elaborate sets, and the director's own witty
script make this production of “The Three Musketeers” one-of-a-kind.
Risking their lives for each other, the musketeers face foes, physical
or abstract, but always face them together. In much
the same way, their fellowship is reflected by a talented cast who truly
understands the meaning of “all for one and one for all”.
by Tri-School
--------------------------------------------------
The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers written by Patrick and Taryn Stenberg, is a
thrilling and overwhelming play about love, compassion, and loyalty.
Young D’artagnan (Geoffrey D’Alessandro) has decided to join the
Musketeers, a group of guards with the French army. Unfortunately
they have been disapproved by Cardinal Richelieu (Ryan Woyshner), all
D’artagnan can do is help out these outlawed Musketeers: Aramis (Steven
Harrington), Athos (Thomas N. Flores), and Porthos (James Chaffe).
Ignoring Richelieu decision, they continue to honor
their promises to protect King Louis (Paul Scott) and his Australian
queen, Anne (Claire Miller). They discover the Cardinal is planning
against them; it is now up to them to capture his spy, Lady De Winter
(Emmy Ross).
In this play there are numerous amounts of set changing, although
necessary at times, confusing other. The scenes are very short, which
means more set changing and this took a while. Geoffrey D’Alessandro is a
great actor, his character grew. He started to
become his character. Emmy Ross, a very talented actress plays Lady De
Winter; her character displays affection to these poor criminals and
then kills them after they know the truth about her. Emmy plays her
character perfectly and shows her good side as well
as her bad.
In conclusion, this play is a thrilling sensation that leaves you with
excitement. The actors and actresses are all well skilled and although
at times a few messed up their lines, most were always on key and knew
when and where to go right away. This play is
very organized and will definitely leave people wanting more.
by University |
