Demmed Nincompoops: The Scarlet Pimpernel Love Thread- Page 2

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 9:31pm

And the way the rest of the chorus joined in was so effective-- these people knowing they'd be executed soon and telling one another how much they mattered to them. It lacked the same impact in the later versions when it was moved to the wedding scene.

And, of course, I think it's terribly unfair to diminish Armand's singing role so much, but what can you do...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 11:26pm

I totally disagree. I love "You are My Home" as the wedding song. And with that change we get to implement "I'll Forget You" during the execution scene which is probably my favorite song in the score just because I cried like a little baby. "You are My Home" used in that same slot was not nearly as emotional for me. Plus Armand still gets to sing the "You are My Home" reprise in the garden scene so it's not like he lost a whole lot.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 12:17am

Yeah, I just loved when the chorus joined in during the original, like Schmerg said.

I ADORE "I'll Forget You." It makes me pretty teary-eyed as well. I have this utter weakness for Wildhorn ballads. Say what you will about his scores, but the man can write a ballad.

Also, I have a soft spot for "Only Love" because it was actually based on a chapter in the novel, and one of my favorite chapters at that.

Updated On: 4/13/09 at 12:17 AM

[Mekroth]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 12:43am

While I do think that the diminishing of Armand's role was taken to a rediculous extent in SP2, I do like that the revised prison scene actually gives the audience a chance to be sad before the execution rather than lifting their spirits with a soaring duet.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 11:52am

Also, I have a soft spot for "Only Love" because it was actually based on a chapter in the novel, and one of my favorite chapters at that.

I felt the exact same way. Though "She Was There" also sticks to the book in a way-- the first time I listened to that song, I felt like it was exactly how Percy would have expressed himself.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 5:07pm

I adore "Only Love", but I agree with its removal as it does sort of stop the show dead having Marguerite sing a song on the footbridge. Without it the scene is very fast paced. The only justification I could see is that when I saw the show I didn't want it to end so maybe another song prolonging the experience would be neat, but still unnecessary.

And I'm so glad Nan finally got her sh*t together for "She Was There". That song went through all kinds of changes and the final version is excellent. A million times better than "High Time" which, unless I'm mistaken, was the front runner for that spot for a while. Yuck.

[philly03]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 7:19pm

Pimpy is one of my all-time favourites as well. Although it still baffles me why so many people adore SP 1.0. The show was slow and boring - which is no surprise why they didn't try to rewrite it. I liked Christine Andreas (haha SporkGoddess...hmm) tons...always gave a stellar performance. Terrence Mann was great on the recording - live from the show? I don't know where half of the people on here were during that show - I presume asleep and just bought the recording and realized what they missed. His notes were dull, boring and shorter (the longer, song-ending ones) than they had been on the recording. I suppose he wanted to do some kind of reserved, conservative hunt thing - but the show couldn't use someone like that, unfortunately. Perhaps in the later versions it would have worked better. (Which makes sense why they choose Rex Smith, nearly entirely opposite to replace him - but I did like Mann better than him!).


"Random, but I wish they had kept the original "You Are My Home." It was so sweet as a brother/sister song."

Me too, but I do think it fits better as a wedding song. Plenty of the versions of the shows (perhaps not rightfully so) add a longer reprise then what's in there, right before "I'll Forget You." There's also one after "When I Look At You" I believe too?


In regards to the footbridge scene -- I also feel it's necessary to have Marguerite sing something. Perhaps if "When I Look At You" wasn't reprised out the walls in the show, one could have worked there. "Only Love" was a nice song too, but too many of those "ballads" didn't make sense either, and I think that Percy's solo is more important of those two, if you had to pick.

I always wondered if they intended to have "High Time" fit in after "Only Love" when they would implement the "Into the Fire (Reprise)" by the league. It was though, for the record, the front runner I suppose until they announced it was hitting Broadway?

For anyone who doesn't know -- "Only Love" is the Act 1 finale of the new Wildhorn musical "Rudolf - The Last Kiss" currently in Austria & Hungary!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 9:10pm

I love the Into the Fire reprise! Ugh... there are so many great moments in this show that went unrecorded when they chose not to actually make a new recording of 2.0. I wish someone would take a great cast into a studio and record the licensed version -- if for nothing more than to have a good reference recording. I'd do it myself if I had the money. My friends don't really understand why I like the show so much and it's hard to show them with only the Original Broadway cast recording and a few updates from the encore CD.

[philly03]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:28pm

I totally agree CATSNY.. if Wildhorn is to somehow get the money to release another recording in the future...I'd love it if he would do what they did similar to Les Mis - a complete complete recording. Obviously, Pimpy isn't a flow through, but as close as possible. There's so many great little orchestrational aspects of it too...just overall sounds great together when you listen to it.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/13/09 at 10:54pm

I'd love one, too. I'd prefer with a new cast, though... or a new cast and Douglas Sills.

I saw a high school production, so I can't comment on the OBC live. Same with the versions of the show, minus the various recordings--I only saw the licensed one.

[philly03]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 12:19pm

The problem with the licensed version is that -- well I assume since there is no real recording of the show in it's current state, ..they feel like they can add songs into it? Actually, I wouldn't know: the only time I saw it was the SP4-esque version (with minor cuts) that I had seen. Apparently, plenty add "Lullaby" or add the brother/sister "You Are My Home" or as the finale put "Believe" (but don't have it in the beginning...). Who knows!

But I'd love another recording with Sills - over Ron Bohmer anyway. I wouldn't mind having Kudisch or William Michals on recording, but for Marguerite, maybe someone new!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/14/09 at 12:47pm

Although it still baffles me why so many people adore SP 1.0. The show was slow and boring - which is no surprise why they didn't try to rewrite it.

Ha! I am equally baffled by anyone who saw other versions and liked them better. I saw all three and was dismayed how the show diminished with each revision, much like the J&H road to Broadway. I thought the first version with the original cast was the most charming and delightful, not to mention the funniest and to me, the score was at its peak. My father and I bought tickets on a whim, opting for a matinee of Pimpernel over High Society just 30 minutes before curtain and we were simply stunned at how wonderful the show was and it quickly became a family favorite.