Box Five: An Introvert at the Theatre: July 2019

"Mine is a rebel sword when I am required to do ill."

- D'Artagnan, The Man in the Iron Mask

What did Erin think?

One of my favorite movies is The Man in the Iron Mask (1998, starring Leonard DiCaprio). Really, it has everything a good story needs: larger than life characters, a thrilling plot full of intrigue and adventure, enduring romance and bromance, and so many sword fights.

One of my favorite books is The Three Musketeers, and like a good fan, I've read all the D'Artagnan Romances. When I read the last book in the series--which is The Man in the Iron Mask--I was surprised at how drastically different it is from the movie I knew and loved. (In brief, no happy ending.)

So it was with great interest, hope, and a bit of trepidation that I went to see Hudson Warehouse's new adaptation of The Man in the Iron Mask. How would they adapt it? Would they simply throw Dumas' novel to the wind, much like the movie did? Or would they be stubbornly faithful to a story that ends in a very unsatisfying way?

I needn't have feared: playwright Susane Lee clearly knows what she's doing.

Directed by Nicholas Martin-Smith, this production stays true to the spirit of Dumas' story and pays homage to many of its most memorable moments while giving us the happy ending we crave. Would Dumas approve? I don't know: but in this post-modern age, does anyone really care?

An excellent cast makes a good adaptation great. This one hinges on Daniel Yaiullo: playing both King Louis XIV and (spoiler) his brother Philippe. It's a double role to test any actor--balancing the selfish, narcissistic King Louis and the humble, golden-hearted Philippe--and Yaiullo nails it.

The famous four musketeers are, in a word, perfect. Conor Hamill is a swashbuckling D'Artagnan and Joseph Hamel an endearing Athos, while Nicholas Martin-Smith and David Palmer Brown seem to have been born to play Aramis and Porthos, respectively. Elle Rigg plays Louisa de la Valliere as a once-innocent country girl who knows she's being bad but likes it, and Matthew Palumbo is heartbreaking as Raoul, Athos' ill-fated son.

This story may end quite differently from the original novel, but with just the right blend of witty banter, swordplay, and intrigue, and with such devotion to Dumas' famous characters, the play almost feels like it was written by Dumas himself.

This world premiere of The Man in the Iron Mask marks the climax of what Hudson Warehouse began in 2017 with The Three Musketeers (also adapted by Susane Lee). 2018 saw The Three Musketeers: Twenty Years Later, and this summer sees the final installment of Lee's D'Artagnan Romances trilogy. I find myself wishing I'd seen the last two, which simply weren't on my radar, and wondering if Hudson Warehouse could be persuaded to run all three productions in repertory.

If not, we'll apparently get The Count of Monte Cristo next summer, and that's enough cause for celebration.

How can I get tickets?

You don't need them! This production is free, but you may want to show up 15 to 30 minutes early to get a good seat. Afterward, they'll pass around a collection bucket, so bring some cash--this cast deserves it!

How long is it?

90 minutes with no intermission.

What else do I need to know?

The Man in the Iron Mask runs July 4 through July 28, Thursday through Sunday evenings at 6:30. Performances take place on the North Patio of The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Riverside Park at West 89th St and Riverside Dr.

Hudson Warehouse's summer season also includes The Merry Wives of Windsor in August.

Is it appropriate for all ages?

Yeah. I mean there's talk of people cheating on other people, but surprisingly, it all stays pretty PG. People die, of course, but there's no blood shown.