Every other year, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks offers one of their two plays as a non-Shakespearean Production.

"The Three Musketeers" was written by French author Alexandre Dumas in the 19th Century, but the action takes place two centuries earlier, which puts it close to Shakespeare's era.

Dumas wrote exciting serial literature, including The Count of Monte Cristo, but is not as well-known as Charles Dickens because he wrote in French and language translations at the time were near impossible.

Britannica summarizes the perforce of The Three Musketeers as a historical romance that relates the adventures of fictional swaggering heroes who lived under the French kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV.

At the beginning of the story, D’Artagnan, a provincial young man from Gascony, makes his way to Paris to achieve his dream of becoming a Musketeer. (The Musketeers were an elite unit of King Louis XIII’s personal military, so called because they carried muskets, which were sophisticated pieces of equipment at the time).

He becomes involved with the three other Musketeers and the four become close friends. So close that when D’Artagnan serves his apprenticeship as a cadet, which must be done to become a Musketeer, each takes their turn sharing guard duty with him.

From that point, you will witness escapades, damsels in distress, secret missions, infidelity, (pay attention to the diamond and Saphire rings), an almost duel, assassination plots and daring escapes.

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is a presentation that has been organized over the years by the Mineral County Performing Arts Council and some consider it as the unofficial closing of summer. This year the performance actually falls on Labor Day, which is Monday, Sept. 4, but it is still held at the Mineral County Fairgrounds.

“This play should appeal to viewers of all ages, with its swashbuckling sword play and camaraderie. What a great introduction to live theater for the next generation of viewers!” said Jim Goss, Treasurer of the MCPAC.

Goss reminds people to bring a chair, snacks and beverages, sunscreen and note that the performance starts at 5:30 p.m. rather than 6 p.m.

“The time change is because it's late in their season so the actors need time to break down the set before dark,” he explains.