Scarlet Pimpernel?
Scarlet Pimpernel?
BroadwayBaby21
Broadway Star Joined: 8/20/04
#0Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/8/04 at 8:06pm
I have a question to ask about The Scarlet Pimpernell.
I'm going to see it on the 15th at the Count Basie Theatre in NJ with my theatre arts class.
I have no idea what it's about... I know some of the songs, but I am clueless on the plot of this show. Can anyone tell me what it's about?
And, if you like it or not?
Thanks!
-If you don't like your fate, change it. You are your own master.- Aida
Updated On: 11/9/04 at 08:06 PM
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#1re: Scarlet Pimpernell?
Posted: 11/8/04 at 8:07pmits about a guy who tricks everyone and then flees in france (more or less). if i remember it correctly, it was good, not great.
#2re: Scarlet Pimpernell?
Posted: 11/8/04 at 8:09pmGood show...amazing music.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#3re: Scarlet Pimpernell?
Posted: 11/8/04 at 8:12pm
Here's the website. Pray for a good Percy. Also, rent the movie with Jayne Seymore. It will give you a good idea of the story minus the music.
http://thepimpernel.com/
www.pbentertainmentinc.com
BWW regional writer "Philadelphia/South Jersey"
#4re: Scarlet Pimpernell?
Posted: 11/8/04 at 8:15pm
ok, here's the plot:
percy, i think his name is, is upset about what's happening in france, where they're killing people (can we say 'madame guillotine'?). he decides to do something about it, and then recruits friends (into the fire) and they attack the people operating the guillotines. they have to make a cover for themselves, because they could be prime suspects, so they dress up as men obsessed with clothing (the creation of man) and so nobody suspects them. but then there's this subplot that the main evil guy, chauvlin, who percy's wife, marguerite, had a relationship with. percy thinks they still have a relationship, but really she was only acting as a spy in england or something.
i love this show. the line to look out for is "and i will water the roses!" in the first act, right before marguerite sings "when i look at you"
enjoy!!!
#5re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/8/04 at 8:21pmWhat a fantastic show.
And hang on, when did you win the discus?
BroadwayBaby21
Broadway Star Joined: 8/20/04
#6re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/8/04 at 8:23pmwow, quick responses! Thanks! :)
-If you don't like your fate, change it. You are your own master.- Aida
Musetta1957
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/03
#7re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/9/04 at 2:22am
You can also try Google.
And as you can see, there is only one "l" in Pimpernel.
#8re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/9/04 at 2:24amCan we please spice this up, it's really getting boring on here. Someone say something outrageous.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#9re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/9/04 at 4:46amWe did a production of this when I was in high school...it's an all around amazing show. Is it a professional teatre you're going to or a local/community theatre? If it's professional I'd consider making a trip to see the production...
Idina: Somehow I got myself to the stage, came out at the end of the show, and I had some kind of closure.
Some guy: You looked great!
Idina: Thanks...I WAS SO HIGH! 8/21/05
Some guy: You looked great!
Idina: Thanks...I WAS SO HIGH! 8/21/05
erinrebecca
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/29/04
#10re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/9/04 at 6:53amAhh, Douglas Sills was perfection as Percy. Fun show and great music.
#11re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/9/04 at 8:13am
The music is fantastic - get the original cast recording and you will see.
Where in NJ? Who's in it?
#12re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/9/04 at 8:28am
Ok, I think this show was a masterpiece, bit I guess that was only me.
Its about an English man named Percy who finds out on his wedding day that his wife, Marguerite, is possibly responsible for giving out the details of his friends hideout---thus resulting in his friend being captured and killed by the Republic in France. He and his band of "merry men" decide to take it upon themselves to alter the state of things in revolutionary France, and begin rescuing people from right under the nose of the French. There is much comedy involved b/c Percy and his friends pretend to be foppish (modern day word: gay) to avoid suspision b/c they have all been traveling back and forth from England to France. There is a bad guy named Chauvalin, who was a former lover of Marguerite, and not only is he the leader of the Republic but he is trying to get Marguerite to help him out.
Sorry about the spelling errors--I'm not really awake yet.
You'll enjoy yourself!
#13re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/9/04 at 1:45pm
"really she was only acting as a spy in england or something."
Not quite. In both cases (giving away the hideout of the Marquis de St Cyr & arranging a "meeting" with the Pimpernel so Chauvelin can see who he is) Marguerite is blackmailed into providing the information.
In the first instance, we discover that Chauvelin has threatened to tell Percy about their relationship (though it has long since ended).
In the second, Chauvelin has arrested Marguerite's brother, Armand, and says he will have Armand beheaded unless Marguerite complies with his orders. This time Marguerite's conscience makes her go to the meeting place early & confess all to the Pimpernel, unaware of his true identity. She attempts to trick Chauvelin into believing she has betrayed the Pimpernel when really she has done all she can to protect him without risking her brother's life.
LittleFish, I too adore the show. We're doing it next October & I can't wait!
#14re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/9/04 at 2:22pmOh you lucky bastard! I would love to do that show! However, its more of a male centered musical--and I would never get Marguerite...
#15re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/9/04 at 2:37pm
I know the feeling. I'll audition for Marguerite, of course, but the MD's wife (who everyone in the company thinks of as "the lead" to the extent that she refers to the rest of the company/the chorus as "they" rather than "we") will also be auditioning and guess who'll get it?
I HATE amdram sometimes!
Having said that, the MD thinks I'm pretty good so hopefully I'll get a few solo lines (hello Servant no. 1! Lol). As long as I get to wear a big dress and sing the line "Women of Paris come gather your bloody bouquets" I think I'll cope.
Updated On: 11/9/04 at 02:37 PM
#16re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/9/04 at 3:39pm
This show is GREAT!
Period. End of story.
David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand
There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail
-Into the Fire
Scarlet Pimpernel
#17re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/9/04 at 3:48pm"Where's the Girl REprise" by Terrance Mann is freakin' Heaven.
#18re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/9/04 at 3:52pm"Falcon in the Dive" by Terrence Mann is incredible.
Musetta1957
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/03
#19re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:35amPimpernel is fun and frothy, but nothing spectacular. If you have a crappy cast, nothing can save you.
BroadwayBaby21
Broadway Star Joined: 8/20/04
#20re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/15/04 at 3:44pm
I just got back from the show, and it was awesome!
It was basically a community production, but the three leads (margueite, chauvilin, percy) were professionals.
Percy was amazing. Anyone ever heard of Christopher Pike? Beacuse he was great.
There were a few technical problems (mikes didn't work/were fuzzy at times) but overall, a great production!
-If you don't like your fate, change it. You are your own master.- Aida
#21re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/15/04 at 3:58pmGlad you had fun. I am a huge fan of the show (see avatar) and am always trying to recrute others.
David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand
There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail
-Into the Fire
Scarlet Pimpernel
Kanab69
Chorus Member Joined: 9/22/04
#22re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/15/04 at 4:37pm
I saw this at the Count Basie last weekend...I saw the Broadway show 3 or 4 times so I was preparing for the worst, but they actually did an ok job. Percy did a nice job with the comedy, though you could tell he started adlibbing a lot, he needed to learn that less is more. He had a nice voice, but on all the high notes he covered and sounded like Kermit the Frog a bit. The guy who played Chauvelin is a good friend of mine, and he was perfection with all the songs, he has an amazing voice. Maguerite (ps sorry if my spelling sucks) did a nice job, but her accent could have used some work.
It was an overall very well done production, though whoever said it before was right, the mics and sound system were awful!
Theatreboy33
Broadway Star Joined: 5/19/03
#23re: Scarlet Pimpernel?
Posted: 11/15/04 at 8:08pmThis show suffered from an extreme sort of musical bi-polar disorder. It never knew whether it wanted to be a riveting drama, or a foppish period comedy. And plase, SP fans, dont come back at me with the beaten horse "it was both." Because it was niether. And that is why it failed. Nonetheless, i hope you have a fantastic time seeing it. To each his own opinion. The above is merely my own.
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