The Three Musketeers
A musical
| Book: | William Anthony McGuire
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| Lyrics: | P. G. Wodehouse and Clifford Grey *
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| Music: | Rudolf Friml
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| Origin: | The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas |
First produced 13 March 1928, New York (318-9 performances).
First London performance 28 March 1930 at Drury Lane Theatre (the Theatre Royal).
Revived with a revised book at the Broadway Theater, NY, officially opening on 11 November 1984 and running for 9 performances (after 15 previews).²
Synopsis
The King of France has given a diamond heart jewel to the Queen and she has given it to her love, the English Duke of Buckingham. When Cardinal Richlieu learns of this, he persuades the King to tell his Queen to wear the jewel at a gala (ball) and sends the Comte de Rochefort and Lady de Winter to London to retrieve it, intending to give it to the King at the ball and so expose the Queen's duplicity. The Queen sends her lady-in-waiting Constance Bonacieux to ask the Musketeers, Porthos, Athos, Aramis and d'Artagnan (who is in love with Constance) to recover the jewel but when they get to London, Lady de Winter already has it. D'Artagnan pretends to be her lover and steals the jewel from her leading to a sword fight in which Rochefort is killed. The Musketeers return to France in time to give the jewel to the Queen before the ball. [Much condensed from several sources.]
Recordings
Great Musicals - Theatre Royal, Drury Lane - a Happy Days CD, catalogue number CDHD233, featuring two songs March of the Three Musketeers and Ma Belle apparently by the original London cast. Note: Ma Belle may not be one of Wodehouse's.
1. It is not clear who wrote what, with some 'authorities' giving PG joint credit with Grey for some songs which others credit solely to Grey. No-one seems to give PG sole credit for any of them.
2. The NY Times critic opined that the highlight of this production was the appearance on stage of a horse in Act 1 (never to return).