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‘Three Musketeers’ show brings together all for fun, fun for all
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Anonymous user Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Now showing at the Gaslight Melodrama is a hilarious interpretation of “The Three Musketeers or All for Fun and Fun for All.” 
Featuring some new faces both onstage and off, the Gaslight continues to deliver a great night of entertainment.
The familiar story of the Queen’s swordsmen comes to life with actors wandering through the audience, delivering lines filled with puns and local references and giving characters wonderfully amusing quirks. This play unabashedly pulls out all the stops, making it hands down the theatre’s funniest show to date.
Carla Stanley is making her directing debut at the Gaslight. She enjoys working outside of the high school venue as she has been teaching drama and technical theatre at Shafter High School. Some of her other outside directing credits include, “A Piece of My Heart” for Bakersfield Community Theatre and “The Guys” for Spotlight Theatre.
Christie Maturo, the actress with a thousand voices, outdoes herself by creating not one, not two, but three separate characters. As D’Artagnon’s mother, she quips, “I taught Zorro how to fence”—an inside joke. For those who frequent the Melodrama, they will recall she played Zorro’s mother in the October production of “Zorro, the Rest of the Untold Story.”  
Maturo also plays the queen who she admits “has a really bad French accent.” Some of the biggest laughs come from her performance of the aging Mail Lady who makes deliveries throughout the play.
Jay Stoddard has a split personality in the show as he plays twins. As the Duke of Earl, a friend of the Queen, he is adorably wimpy. As the Cardinal Richelieu who plots against the Queen, he makes a delicious villain. 
Suzanne Schmedding returns to the stage as the devious and seductive Clarice de Winter who plots to steal the Queen’s jewels. She saunters through the town as she distracts the bumbling heroes and slinks along the back streets dressed entirely in black as the undetected thief.
The Musketeers are played by Terry Willey, Kern Burdick and Greg Ramsdell. Willey and Burdick are making their acting debuts at the Gaslight.
Ramsdell, a versatile actor, has played both romantic leads and the ne’er-do-well hero; the role of Aramis is the latter. With great comedic timing and facial expressions, he does an admirable job.
Willey is a seasoned actor and playwright, having played in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” and having written the one act play titled “That’s Not My Son” which is now playing at BCT.  Willey plays Athos and wields his sword amiably while fencing.
Burdick has an extensive acting and singing background and has recently played in “Forever Plaid,” “It Runs in the Family,” “Into the Woods” and “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” Having sung with CSUB and the Long Beach Opera Company, he also possesses a wonderful voice. He delights the audience with his amusing portrayal of Porthos who would rather eat than fight.
Garret Marshall returns to the Gaslight to play D’Artagnon.  Though this actor is only 16 years old, he adeptly serves as the romantic lead and displays his comic timing well. A junior at Centennial High, Marshall is a remarkable young actor.
Newcomer, Vanessa Vaughan, plays the role of Constance Bonacieux, the Queen’s personal servant. She is sweet as the lovely young maid and love interest of D’Artagnon.
Vaughan has performed before with BCT in “Peter Pan,” “Anne of Green Gables” and “Phantom Tollbooth.” It is hard to believe she is only 15 and a freshman at Liberty High School; she is a natural onstage, and we are sure to see more of her in future productions.
The evening’s vaudeville revue is “Love and Romance on the Good Ship Gaslight,” a zany comedy, musical reminiscent of “The Love Boat.” 
Another new face can be found in the revue, Nick Kalar.  He is also a 17-year-old junior from Centennial High. He has played in “Peter Pan,” “Seussical the Musical” and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
New faces, seasoned actors, great music, and hysterical script combine for a fun-filled experience.  So whether you have been to the Gaslight before or not, this is one show not to be missed. Playing now through July 1, “The Three Musketeers” tickets are available by calling 661-587-3377.
Show dates are 7 p.m. Fridays; 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturdays; and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

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