Swashbuckler full of fighting spirit

Last time out it was tap dancing, and not content with picking up just one new skill they have now mastered the art of sword fighting on stage.

Musical play All for One highlights the battle of good versus evil in France, with the villainous and power-hungry Cardinal Richelieu out to cause a rift between Queen Anne of France and her husband King Louis. It is down to three of the disbanded musketeers and our two young heroes to save the day.

Richard Chubb was suitably dashing as wannabe musketeer D'Artagnan, who through a series of humorous mishaps lands himself with the prospect of a duel against each of the three musketeers in turn, before joining up with them to save Queen Anne's honour. He is joined on his quest by the feisty Cosette (up and coming young leading lady Emma Batchelor who shone in the Player's production of the Railway Children) who has her sights set on catching the eye of her man.

The three musketeers themselves provided much of the comedy and looked great swanning around in their finery. It would have been good to see Chris Briant, David Mayo and Robert Mühl, the three beneath the false wigs and moustaches, given a little more to do albeit in this already packed production.

This was a play with brilliant baddies in particular. Dastardly duo Cardinal Richelieu and his henchman Rochefort were superbly played by Bride Valley vicars Bob Thorn and Ryder Rogers, clearly relishing the chance to show off their dark sides. They were joined by the villainous but beautiful spy Milady de Winter who was brought to life by stand-out Louisa Hardy. But it was Rogers' weasley one-eyed Rochefort who stole the show. He was a delight to watch as he accompanied his female companion to England to retrieve an incriminating locket from Queen Anne's former beau, the Duke of Buckingham.

With D'Artagnan and Cosette hot on their trail, and now joined by snooty princess Constance (Laura Brown) and her maid Yvette (Gill East), there was much to look forward to.

Performed in the round one of the many challenges faced by the players was the need to stay in character for every moment they were in the hall with the audience watching from all angles at all times, something they did well. They also made good use of every inch of space in the hall, in particular during the sword fighting scenes with action taking place on and off stage, including in the kitchen and through the hatch.

The fight scenes were brilliantly choreographed thanks to help from fencing expert Shirley Parker and everyone looked confident with their blades, if a little gentlemanly standing back on occasions to wait their turn when it became two on one. Let's blame health and safety.

It was good to see some live music too in the form of Matt Huxley on guitar, Katy Woodrow on flute and David Powell percussion and squeeze box, whose strong contributions helped pull the play together, particularly when it came to pulling the singers through.

Overall this was an enjoyable romp with plenty of chances for the ensemble cast to take on some fun characters, if corny lines, as sailors, servants, tavern regulars and the cardinal's men. Directors Shirley Ewart and Barbara Powell have pulled off another fun success with the always entertaining and hard-working Players.

ALSO IN THE CAST: Gill Knight, Mike Read, Vicky Thomas, Sophie Cole, Monisha Vij, Tom Wilson, Judith Chaffey, Sarah Brown, Abi Hardy, Zoe Roberson, Lynnette Woodrow, Marlene Fisher, Len Green, Gill Knight, and Celia Slater.