THEATRE REVIEW: Three Musketeers at Sheffield Lyceum

THERE is so much joy to be found in watching skilled people perform their well-practiced art.

That’s the feeling I get at the ballet — especially shows by the multi-talented Northern.

With its beautiful blend of dance and comedy, it’s tempting to say that the Leeds-based company doesn’t take the form as seriously as the Russians, say.

But it’s clear that everyone does — who could achieve such jaw-dropping results without complete dedication, after all?

That said, Northern Ballet injects its productions with a humour not often seen in the style.

Their award-winning Three Musketeers provides a prime example, with its flirtatious japes and slapstick clumsiness.

This classic romantic adventure tale lends itself perfectly to ballet with its grand balls, swashbuckling and seduction.

The sword fights especially are scenes of expertly-choreographed chaos, as drunken Porthos (Javier Torres) spars unsteadily amongst acrobatic comrades d’Artagnan (Kevin Poeung), Athos (Nicola Gervasi) and Aramis (Jonathan Hanks).

In another scene, lady’s maid Constance (Antoinette Brooks-Daw) comically cracks her head on a wall, which she misidentifies as a hidden door.

And King Louis XIII (Sean Bates) is likewise played for laughs, with his love of pretty dresses and feminine flair on the dancefloor.

The love scenes are also breath-taking — whether it’s the Duke of Buckingham (Joseph Taylor) spinning Queen Anne (Nina Queiroz da Silva) aloft, or the titular Musketeers cavorting with the washer women.

The climax sees our heroes and Milady de Winter (Hannah Bateman) juggling jewellery boxes over the heads of whirling courtiers — a riot of agility worthy of the Cirque du Soleil.

All of this happens in the most beautiful costumes, bodices glittering with jewels and voluminous sleeves slashed colourfully.

And the scenery is truly spectacular, drawing a “wow” from the audience as the rear walls cracked open at one point, revealing themselves to be enormous, gilded doors.

Other set pieces included an hilarious hobby horse chase, happening in sillhouette behind a screen.

And a full-size ship bearing Buckingham away to England actually pulled away from Calais harbour, before viewers' eyes.

Transitions were mostly done with a flourish, or else unobserved. But once, in whisking off Buckingham’s chambers to make way for a dungeon, two stagehands broke cover from the wings.

Whether a mistiming, a misplaced curtain or an intentional move, I couldn’t tell. They were only visible for about three seconds — but it was jarring, after so many seamless set changes.

And I felt a little sorry for the sinister Cardinal Richelieu (Mlini Kulashe), who did far more scowling than dancing.

Otherwise, Three Musketeers does what Northern Ballet do best, giving an art with a snobbish reputation the broad appeal and accessibility to encourage many new fans.

And all without compromising the impression of immense poise and power for which ballet dancers are famous.

The Three Musketeers is at Sheffield's Lyceum Theatre until Saturday. See the Sheffield Theatres website for more information and to buy tickets.