All 4 OneAll 4 One

A musical in 2 Acts. Book and Lyrics by Kevin John Heuston; Music by John Trent Wallace

Full details and samples of songs can be found at the official All 4 One website

Synopsis

Full Synopsis

Act One - France, 1625

We begin with D’Artagnan in childhood and then snap to young man as live action begins. D’Artagnan’s father speaks of those ethics that he must retain to carry him through life and help realise his dream. He leaves Gascony bound for Paris armed only with a letter of recommendation from his father in search of this dream to become a Musketeer

D’Artagnan is thrown out of the Inn. He is in a fight and is outnumbered. The landlord’s daughter, Madamoiselle Bonacieux who is lady in waiting to the Queen Mother, takes pity on him and tends his wounds. Bonacieux questions D’Artagnan’s stubbornness. There is a hint of attraction. She pledges to set up the meeting with the Captain of the Musketeers. D’Artagnan tells her of his burning ambition to become a Musketeer and his determination not to fail.

The inn is in full swing as Musketeers sing, dance and relax. Ladies enjoy much light hearted banter with the handsome Musketeers and all is bawdy and merry. D'Artagnan is summoned in to meet the Captain of the Musketeers, Monsieur De Treville.

Upon leaving his audience with De Treville, D’Artagnan clashes independently with Athos & Porthos and duels with both are arranged.

D’Artagnan leaves the Inn and whilst walking has time for reflection over his hastiness. He vows to be more of a gentleman in honour of the Musketeers.

As D’Artagnan continues his reflective walk, he comes across Aramis and vows to be courteous. This immediately backfires and another duel is arranged.

Anne of Austria is writing a letter to her English lover, The Duke of Buckingham, warning him not to return to France. This letter is passed to Bonacieux who agrees to take it, in confidence, to his agent in Paris. We learn of Anne’s despair and the impending war with England. She speaks of intense guilt and makes reference to a deeper secret that is shared only with her son concerning a secret son imprisoned in the Bastille and who is twin brother to the Young King.

Porthos is dressing in preparation for the duel with D’Artagnan. His fervent admirer, Madame Coquenard, is enthusiastically fussing to the frustration of Porthos!

The three duels are soon to be fought outside the Carmelite Convent. As the Musketeers each arrive it is soon obvious that they are all about to duel with D’Artagnan. However, before the first duel can begin, the Cardinal’s men arrive, lead by Jussac, and the Musketeers are outnumbered. D'Artagnan offers to fight with them. They accept reluctantly as he is so young, but go on to win the following fight with D’Artagnan proving his swordsmanship. D'Artagnan is now welcomed as a new friend.

Monsieur de Treville and the Young King Louis are in discussion over the earlier events outside the Convent. King Louis is secretly pleased with the Musketeers but cannot show it. He pledges to chastise his men. Anne is present and her heartfelt guilt over the secret brother is discussed upon de Treville’s exit. The young King demonstrates no mercy or compassion to his kin. Anne is clearly in fear of her son’s power.

The citizens of Paris gather to argue over the rivalry between the King and the Cardinal. Bonacieux is hurriedly taking Anne’s letter to Buckingham’s agent. Jussac and the Cardinal’s men accost her. Jussac is clearly drunk and still reeling from the earlier defeat at the hands of the Musketeers. Jussac steals the letter as he attempts to molest her. By chance D’Artagnan rounds the corner on the way back home. D’Artagnan frightens them all off, fighting and easily beating Jussac who is renowned as the finest swordsman in France. Bonacieux is visibly shaken and another moment of tenderness is shared between the two as their love for one another is established.

News of D’Artagnan’s bravery reaches court. He is a new hero.

The King is privately triumphant as the Cardinal has been humiliated. However, he demands the presence of the protagonists. A meeting is called for the following day. In a rare and unexpected display of appreciation the King appoints D'Artagnan as a Musketeer and puts him under the care of Aramis, Athos & Porthos.

Scene freezes. The lone figure of Philippe is lit downstage. He questions his identity.

Act Two - Ten Years Later

Aramis visits Philippe as his confessor. We establish that Aramis is now Bishop of Vannes. Aramis tells Philippe of his birthright and that he is brother to Louis XIV, the present King. Aramis pledges to exercise the release of Philippe and exchange Philippe with King Louis XIV.

The royal fete is in progress in honour of the King. Members of court describe their true opinions of the King. D’Artagnan and Louis are discussing his new position as Captain of the Musketeers. D’Artagnan’s unwavering loyalty to the King is evident despite Louis’ selfish and cold demeanor. Porthos and Athos are reunited with their old friend during these festivities. Aramis meets the King to beg for a Pardon for prisoner Seldon and to get his signature to a lettre de cachet. D’Artagnan appears suspicious but leaves his old friend to complete his business. The Four Musketeers are reunited and reminisce on past days.

Aramis visits his old friend Baisemeaux, now the governor of the Bastille, for supper. Aramis indulges in excess of food and wine with the governor, but, in fact, cleverly remains sober throughout whilst rendering the governor more and more intoxicated. Aramis hands over the order for release for a prisoner by the name of Seldon. Aramis cleverly switches this order with a fake in the name of Philippe and the tipsy Baisemeaux unquestioningly releases Philippe into the care of Aramis.

Aramis and Philippe return to the Chateau where they take refuge in the blue room situated directly above the King’s room. As they wait for nightfall and the King to retire, Aramis begins to prepare Philippe to take on the image of his regal brother. During the night the King is visited in his room by masked men who kidnap him and replace him in the bed with Philippe.

D’Artagnan visits the King’s room where a nervous Philippe is now in place. Philippe and D’Artagnan interact but D’Artagnan is suspicious of quite obvious changes of manner in his King. Aramis is summoned and confesses his secret to his old friend, dependant upon their oath of allegiance to escape possible arrest. D’Artagnan warns Aramis that he will be forced to reinstate the King upon his honour and return Philippe to the Bastille. Surprisingly, D’Artagnan allows Aramis a head start but vows to track him down on the orders of his ‘true’ King which he knows will follow once he reveals the plot to Louis and releases him. Aramis takes flight to meet Porthos. Anne and Philippe are reunited.

D’Artagnan tells King of plot as he releases him and,angry he immediately orders the banishment of Philippe to Iles Ste. Marguerite. "He will cover his face with an iron mask, which the captive cannot remove without risk to his life" The King orders D’Artagnan to seek out Aramis and return him to stand trial for treason.

Aramis visits Porthos with news of an urgent mission. Porthos does not quite clearly understand what kind of mission or to where, but follows his friend’s urgent example without question. All for One!

Porthos reads this as the quest for his dukedom that he has always craved and exclaims, "I shall be made a Duke". Bonacieux arrives and upon hearing of the plot vows to stand by D’Artagnan.

The three musketeers are reunited once more and immediately Aramis pours out his story of Philippe’s banishment and D’Artagnan’s solemn vow. Aramis reminds Athos of his grievances against the young King. The three musketeers pledge their allegiance to one another and vow to restore justice by setting Philippe free and returning Louis to the Bastille.

D’Artagnan returns to the Inn in search of his friends, where he is set upon by Jussac who hungers for revenge. There is a vicious fight and D’Artagnan slays Jussac.

D’Artagnan enters the inn alone and reflects upon his crisis of conscience as ghosts from his past echo his thoughts.

We move to Blois and the house of Athos. D’Artagnan bursts in and there is a brief stand off between him and his former friends. As the tension intensifies D’Artagnan finds the challenge to his friends to be difficult .His conscience creates a change of heart and the three become four once again with a collective mission to free Philippe!

Philippe is alone in his cell still unable to accept his brother’s cruelty. D’Artagnan arrives with an unconscious Louis XIV draped over his shoulder. Philippe is released by the group and symbolically, out in the daylight, the Iron Mask is removed. Bonacieux arrives to witness the reunion.

The lone figure of Louis XIV is set downstage. He is resigned to his fate.

Musical Numbers

  1. Prologue
  2. Gascon Heart - D'Artagnan
  3. Musketeers - D'Artagnan, Musketeers& Chorus
  4. Musketeers (reprise) - Athos, Porthos, Aramis & Musketeers.
  5. Pull Yourself Together - D'Artagnan.
  6. Guilty - Anne of Austria
  7. You are Mine - Mme Coquenard & Porthos
  8. Live a Dream - D’Artagnan, Aramis, Porthos & Athos
  9. Guilty (reprise) - Anne of Austria
  10. Two Heads of State - Chorus
  11. Silence My Heart – Madamoiselle Bonacieux & D’Artagnan
  12. D’Artagnan! – Chorus
  13. All 4 One - The Company
  14. The Bastille - Orchestra
  15. See the Light - Philippe
  16. In the Name of the King - Chorus
  17. Bottled Up - Aramis & Baisemeaux
  18. No Turning Back - Aramis
  19. Ease the Pain – Philippe & Anne of Austria
  20. Musketeers (reprise) - Chorus
  21. Life, Love, Loyalty - D’Artagnan & Chorus
  22. Live a Dream (reprise) - Aramis, Porthos, Athos & D’Artagnan
  23. One for All - The Company
  24. Left to Die – Philippe

Scenes and Settings

Act I

Act II