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Manhattan Concert Productions to do "Scarlet Pimpernell" next year!

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#8

Manhattan Concert Productions to do "Scarlet Pimpernel" next year!

Posted: 6/27/18 at 10:51am

This is AWESOME!

So I was in middle school back in the late 90s when Scarlet Pimpernel was on Broadway and back then before YouTube and what not, musicals would send a promo CD with 2-3 songs in it to promote their new musical. My older sister received one for Scarlet Pimpernel and I still remember loving the song "Only Love" sung by Linda Eder in the promo CD even though I believe Christine Andreas originated the role and it's Christine who is in the cast recording.

For those unfamiliar with "Only Love", here is a link to youtube:

#10

Manhattan Concert Productions to do "Scarlet Pimpernel" next year!

Posted: 6/27/18 at 11:00am

adamgreer said: "Oh god. The less we all hear of any score written by Frank Wildhorn, the better. I don’t remember which version of this show I saw (Carolee was in the lead), but I don’t think it matters. It was...not good."



It's great that we can always count on you bring here, adamgreer, to piss in the cornflakes.

#11

Manhattan Concert Productions to do "Scarlet Pimpernel" next year!

Posted: 6/27/18 at 11:33am

If they're primarily doing the score and a trimmed book, maybe it will be a mashup of all 3 versions. I think Only Love was only in the 1st version.

I wonder who they will cast? The Javert role (also Terrence Mann originally) and the Christine Andreas/Carolee/Rachel York role should be easy to cast, but I can't think of many hilarious tenors who can do what Douglas Sills did and be meaningful for tix sales? Jonathan Groff could do it, but he's always working.

#12

Manhattan Concert Productions to do "Scarlet Pimpernel" next year!

Posted: 6/27/18 at 11:41am

I'm ALL for this. It's by no means perfect, but somehow I've always found this one underappreciated. But I was in it years ago, so I have some bias Manhattan Concert Productions to do Yeah is this a JUST a concert of the music or is it a concert staging of the entire thing?

fashionguru-HA! That killed me, which version indeed! Heaven knows, it's a truth that the earlier Wildhorn musicals go through about 10 different drafts ;P

I can think of a tenor/baritenor who's got "Percy" skills and is on Broadway right now (he's also done the role before to hilarious effect) but isn't a name...

#14

Manhattan Concert Productions to do

Posted: 6/27/18 at 12:06pm

To give a serious response, if it is anything like the licensed version, then it will most closely resemble 3.0, which means no "Only Love."

Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05

Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28

Updated On: 6/27/18 at 12:06 PM

#16

Manhattan Concert Productions to do "Scarlet Pimpernel" next year!

Posted: 6/27/18 at 12:39pm

Mildred Plotka said: "It’s cute that the article refers to it as “critically acclaimed”."

Some of the critics did have nice things to say about the revised version. Even the New York Times reviewer conceded that the new version at the Minskoff was an improvement.

"Finally, a Dandy of a 'Pimpernel... "The Scarlet Pimpernel" is now what it should always have been: a light-hearted, prettily appointed entertainment, still sung in the manner of old-time operetta, but a show that moves with speed, sometimes wit and is never solemn for very long."

He went on to compliment the score, and the cast.

As a side note, I do hope one of the labels records this. We never did get a proper cast album of the revised version. Not in English anyway.

#19

Manhattan Concert Productions to do

Posted: 6/27/18 at 1:26pm

The show's history is kind of amazing. In 2018, a musical could NEVER do what The Scarlet Pimpernel did:

• Got mixed reviews but ran for a year
• Took a week hiatus to make changes (changes that included a new director/choreographer)
• Ran 7 more months before closing
• After a short tour, opened again 4 months later at a different theater, with even more revisions, finally closing for good after about 5 months.

772 performances over 2+ years of its 3 "versions" in 2 theaters, according to IBDB... like the show or not, the dedication of those original producers is impressive.

Updated On: 6/27/18 at 01:26 PM

#20

Manhattan Concert Productions to do

Posted: 6/27/18 at 2:09pm

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "To give a serious response, if it is anything like the licensed version, then it will most closely resemble 3.0, which means no "Only Love.""

Ah I didn't know that. My bad luck then if they choose 3.0. I myself have never seen the show but just remember the promo CD they sent back in the late 90s of Linda Eder singing that song.

#21

Manhattan Concert Productions to do

Posted: 6/27/18 at 2:17pm

I saw versions 1-3 and the first was by far the best. The original novel is slight on plot and mostly fluff, so to me, the musical reflected the spirit of the novel and actually improved on it. The score is my favorite of Wildhorn's and I really don't know why anyone would have a huge problem with it. The performances were stellar and I loved the staging and designs. Those Fragonard-inspired drops were GORGEOUS and the entire Into the Fire sequence was thrilling. The show deserved better.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#23

Manhattan Concert Productions to do

Posted: 6/27/18 at 2:30pm

Mister Matt said: "I saw versions 1-3 and the first was by far the best. The original novel is slight on plot and mostly fluff, so to me, the musical reflected the spirit of the novel and actually improved on it. The score is my favorite of Wildhorn's and I really don't know why anyone would have a huge problem with it. The performances were stellar and I loved the staging and designs. Those Fragonard-inspired drops were GORGEOUS and the entire Into the Fire sequence was thrilling. The show deserved better."

Well said. My ONLY issue with the 1.0 version is the ending. I don't know if I saw an early performance or something was wrong with the technical elements (in which case it would have been something that went wrong TWICE while I was there cus it was the same both times I saw 1.0) that they performed a safety version but to have the result of the duel happening off stage with only voice over lines was very meh. It was much better in the later version (whatever you call the one that played in the second theater, it's hard to keep track of all the versions) where they did it with stage tricks right in front of the audience. Significantly better moment.

#24

Manhattan Concert Productions to do

Posted: 6/27/18 at 5:00pm

Mildred Plotka said: "I still don’t think that makes it critically acclaimed, but there’s really no convincing Wildhorn lovers that his **** actually smells."

Just like there's no convincing some of his haters that he's capable of ever doing anything right. laughI know he's written some real turkeys, but he's not 100 percent completely incompetent.

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