As previously announced, Masayuki Sakamoto stars in the musical “The Three Musketeers” along with Ae! group‘s Seiya Suezawa, which will take place from September to October in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Osaka.
I will do an exclusive review for Dumpling Box of the musical on its first day at the important Nissay Theater in Tokyo!
STORY
In the 17th century, France was in turmoil. Athos (played by Masayuki Sakamoto), one of the musketeers protecting the king, Louis XIII, was caught in the middle of a constant struggle between the Musketeers of the Kingsguard, who protected the king, and the SS under Cardinal Richelieu (played by Kiyotaka Imai), who held real political power.
D’Artagnan (played by Seiya Suezawa), who has come from the countryside to Paris with dreams of becoming a musketeer like his late father, follows Athos, the leader of the Three Musketeers, and meets Aramis (played by Kōhei Ueguchi) and Porthos (played by Yūichi Harada) one after the other, but is offended when they tease him about being a brat and challenges each to a duel. Amidst the commotion, the beautiful Constance (played by Tomona Yabiku) appears before him and D’Artagnan falls in love at first sight.
When the time comes for the duel, Jussac (played by Ryuji Kamiyama), the SS chief of Lord Richelieu, arrives to arrest the four under the pretext of breaking the law. The Musketeers and D’Artagnan fight together against the SS and are victorious, and celebrate at Constance‘s inn. As they grow closer, Athos realises that D’Artagnan‘s father is his mentor.
During the feast, Constance is suddenly kidnapped by someone. The kidnapper is Milady (played by Sylvia Grab), a darkly plotting woman who has become a confidante of Lord Richelieu, who is at odds with the king. Athos, who was once her lover, has mixed feelings.
Meanwhile, the king is discovered to be missing. Lord Richelieu is plotting a plot that will shake the nation. What will become of Athos and Milady? Can D’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers bring Constance and the King back?
STAGE REVIEW
A story as well known worldwide as “The Three Musketeers” with Japan’s experience of making musicals. Undoubtedly a unique combination.
The fight scenes were one of the elements that stood out the most, as their movements with the swords of The Musketeers were very well worked. Without a doubt, they were scenes that you could tell they spent a lot of time rehearsing and they were performed to perfection.
Masayuki Sakamoto, who plays Athos, was able to express all the feelings very well at every moment, as well as singing that captivated the audience.
Seiya Suezawa, who plays D’Artagnan, lived up to the role. His singing in the musical is very different from when he is in the group (Ae! group), resonated throughout the theatre.
In one of the scenes of the musical, Seiya has a solo dance, and he does it beautifully, demonstrating the experience he has as an idol.
D’Artagnan and Constance‘s chemistry was superb from the first moment they met. When D’Artagnan got into trouble in the Paris market and all the people were attacking him, Constance went to defend him, even though she didn’t know him at all, showing what a big heart she had.
When D’Artagnan wakes up in Constance‘s house, love at first sight was evident. The duet they sang was very beautiful and the love between them was very clear. The moment when they promise to see each other again, and she gives him the necklace and he gives her the hat, is a very touching moment that makes you want them to see each other again and be happy forever.
There were also very funny moments. For example, when D’Artagnan was at Constance‘s house, and the king who had been kidnapped, but he had been able to find refuge in Constance‘s house, with a helmet on his head, appeared. As he did not speak, he had to communicate with movements to make himself understood that he wanted the ring to be given to the Three Musketeers, and that moment was very funny and the audience laughed a lot.
Aramis and Porthos also had many funny moments. One, in particular, is when they had rescued Constance, and she was unconscious on the boat with D’Artagnan. When Constance wakes up the first thing Aramis and Porthos say is: “She’ll sing again”, and that made the audience laugh.
Apart from the love story between D’Artagnan and Constance, the love story between Athos and Milady is worth mentioning. Although Milady was on the bad side at the beginning, her goodness can be seen. In particular, the scene of them singing, recreating their past as young people, was very moving. The cast of them as young people shows a real passion, as Athos and Milady felt. The cast moved with balletic steps that fit the song very well.
The scene of Athos and Milady before she dies makes a great impact. Athos manages to propose again before she dies, and the expression Masayuki makes when his lover dies makes you want to cry because he has lost his loved one, and they have not been able to be together for the rest of their lives.
One of the values conveyed by the musical is friendship. How, after overcoming various barriers, the three musketeers and D’Artagnan become friends and good working companions.
The music of the play is very beautiful. It perfectly highlights the qualities of the cast. The actress playing Constance has a very good voice. You could tell she has a wide range of experience in musicals.
The set design is very well done. The clothes are period costumes and perfectly set.
On the first day of the musical there were four curtain calls. In the first one the whole cast came out while the audience applauded. The cast sang to the audience a song from the musical.
Then at the second curtain call the audience gave a standing ovation and we were introduced to the orchestra that had been playing throughout the musical.
At the third curtain call, Masayuki, in honor of being the main character of the play, spoke and said: “Thank you for coming today to the premiere of the musical The Three Musketeers. The whole cast and crew have been working together on the theme ‘We Are One’. It’s been an exciting production, but it’s been very hot and very hard – there are 44 shows in total! There are 43 shows left… We want to keep this heat going and tour all over the country – we can’t wait to see you again!“
After Masayuki’s words , PHILIP McKINLEY, the musical’s director, after watching the play from the audience seats, came on stage. Masayuki thanked him for coming to Japan to see the play, and PHILIP McKINLEY replied with thank you in Japanese, and then the audience gave an impressive applause that echoed throughout the theater.
When the curtain came down, even though the theater announced that the show was over, the audience applauded non-stop, which led to the fourth curtain call, where the entire cast and PHILIP McKINLEY waved to the audience.
It was an impressive musical that will undoubtedly leave no one indifferent. Best of luck to all the cast and staff, and may they complete all 44 shows without any problems!