A library book? A library book never returned? Who would have thought such a small premise could turn upside down and sideways keeping the majority of a full house Opening Night at Buntport doubled over in laughter?

A brilliant premise, based on historical fact, knocking down walls of time and space, flying on fantasized wings definitely excites the gears in the Buntport people.

Erin Rollman transforms herself into an uptight, over achieving, conscientious librarian, Charlotte, with a staccato twitch. Taking her librarian duty seriously at the Marseilles Public Library, Charlotte answers the phone with sharp, clipped words while making absolutely certain records remain up to date.

Oh, oh! Major problem. Charlotte discovers a library book over due. To her horror, the book is 187 years and 22 days late. Alexandre Dumas checked out The Memoirs of Mister d’Artagnan June 7, 1844, and never returned it. Something must be done. Dumas based his famous Three Musketeer personalities on characterizations detailed in the missing book. He never got around to returning it. Why should 187 years and 22 days hinder Charlotte from living up to her efficient library training? Fantasies know no boundaries.

Charlotte just happened to read in a local paper, Dumas’ body was being exhumed for the second time to be moved to the Pantheon in Paris.

Of course, she was going to get this book back. Time and space mean nothing when it comes to the imagination.

Buntport set the comedic world a blaze with its collaborative spirit in writing, directing, set design, and costuming. The ingenious set for Musketeer allows the fantasy defying time and space to move easily however, wherever it wants to go with ease. Interestingly enough, there is never any question where the characters are in the clever process.

Hannah Duggan plays Simone who works for her local Chamber of Commerce who also has been chosen to play Aramis. A girl as Aramis? That’s what the other two Musketeers want to know. Duggan plays Simone and Aramis with strong understanding and knowledge, and proves her worth as Simone and Aramis.

Erik Edborg takes on Edgard, an actor chosen to play Athos. Edborg happily and funnily plays Edgard who funnily plays Athos. Brian Colonna takes on Gilbert, also an actor, chosen to play Porthois. While taking his double role seriously, he does so on a merry gallop in carefree abandon.

The three Musketeers have been chosen to walk the wagon carrying Dumas’s coffin to Paris. What a sight for sore eyes this must have been to people living in 2002. In a fantasy nothing appears to be unrealistic. Of course, Charlotte finds the wagon. On her own, she creates an ingenious opportunity be alone with the coffin. By hook or by crook she will get her hands on that library book. There’s only one person to ask, and that’s Dumas himself. With no one is sight she crawls into the coffin. Evan Weissman covers himself in the persona of Dumas creating some very funny scenes.

Buntport adopted the use of video to expand the set to move far beyond the small stage. It works wondrously, especially reflecting scenes inside the small coffin with Charlotte and Dumas in an exclusively tight conversation. Sword fights dance with hilarious Musketeer bouncing moves keeping eyes alert and wide open.

Musketeer should not be missed under any circumstances for its comedic bent, its creativity, and its delicious quality of acting, its video, and its humored laughability. If I had the power, I would insist every creative writing teacher and professor in the Denver Metropolitan arena schedule time for his or her classes to attend a performance keyed to ignite imagination into a flight of fantasy.

An over due library book? Who else but Buntport would have zeroed in on such a tiny thought expanding it to a delectable, delicious, fun-filled production? Your sense of humor calls. Can you hear it? Respond now before the sold out sign flashes into eyesight.

-Holly Bartges, August 21, 2008 , Colorado BackStage