The Scarlet Pimpernel

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 3:47pm

So, I got this CD for Christmas and I really like it. Though I like most of Frank's work. It sounds very "wildhorn," but anyways, was this show a success? I know it ran for about 3 yrs, but it went through so many changes. How was it perceived by critics? It went from the Minksoff to the Neil Simon, why? Thanks. Btw, "Prayer" is prob. the most amazing song by Frank & Co.

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 3:59pm

Scarlet was a flop it was revised two times, the second time being the move. With each move there was a different cast
1. Doug Sills, Terrence Mann (rockssocksduringWhere'stheGirl), and Christine Andreas
2. Doug Sills, Rex Smith, Rachel York
3. Can't remember
The changing shows also meant adding and subtracting songs, although I felt the show was better without revision. It also resulted in the album: The Scarlet Pimpernel: Encore. It had Rex and Rachel on some of Terry and Christine's songs.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 4:07pm

Carolee Carmello, Marc Kudisch, and Ron Bohmer were in the final cast.

[EganFan2]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 4:22pm

I personally think it had potential IF they had worked out whatever was wrong with it BEFORE going to Broadway. It's a great story, regardless, and a wonderful score. Pity it didn't do well.

[EganFan2]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 4:22pm

double post Updated On: 12/31/05 at 04:22 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 4:42pm

Well, what exactly got fixed? The story is very confusing, as I've read the snopsis and still am confused, but I thought for the most parts the songs were great. And yes, Terrance Mann works it on Where is the girl and Falcon in the Dive.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 5:23pm

The book was revised and the show was restaged by Robert Longbottom. Several of the songs were cut, one was added, and others were reworked. "Believe" and "It's Only Love" being cut, and "I'll Forget You" being added. "Storybook" was moved to the opening of the show, "Madame Guillotine" went from being a company number to a solo for Chauvelin, and the "Believe: Reprise" at the end was replaced by a reprise of "You Are My Home". Two of the three leads were replaced, Terrence Mann (who uncharacteristically got poor reviews) by Rex Smith, and Christine Andreas by Rachel York. The book was redone to focus more on the three cental characters, and to add more humorous moments for Percy.

In an interview before she left the show, Christine Andreas said the following about the revisions: "These new guys are going to make changes we wished happened a year ago, including plot restructuring meant to better support the musical's major characters. My character is rather underwritten. It's really because of that unbalance that I'm ready to go."

I am not as familiar with changes between the second and third installment, but I believe they were minor and were more of a downsizing.

Updated On: 12/31/05 at 05:23 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 5:36pm

Oh okay, downsizing, hence the move to a smaller theater? I see why ppl dont' really like wildhorn, i guess there's a lot of drama surrounding this shows. was this show given an out of town tryout or no?

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 5:56pm

Here is some information I have found about the revisions between the second and third installment of Pimpernel.

Excerpt from Playbill article:

"Since closing at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre May 30, the musical adventure has been recast with a company of 29 (rather than the previous 41) and has a slightly altered scenic design and staging, but no major changes to the Frank Wildhorn-Nan Knighton score. Insiders affectionately call this version "3.0."

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 6:13pm

To answer your other question...I do not believe that there was an out of town tryout for Pimpernel. There was, however, a concept album released in 1992 with Linda Eder, Dave Clemmons, Chuck Wagner, and Peabo Bryson (on "You Are My Home").

[EganFan2]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 8:19pm

You're right; before the original show went up there was no out of town tryout and that's where they made their mistake.

[DWalk]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 8:24pm

I saw versions 1 and 2 of this show and loved both of them although I thought version 1 was better. I have never understood why it didn't do better than it did on Broadway.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 8:26pm

oh okay, i thought since it ran for a long time that it made its investment back, but i guess it didnt. when reading the liner notes, the lyricist/book writer talks about how in the song "into the fire" the ship rises out of the stage or something? or did i get that wrong?

[EganFan2]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 11:08pm

I never saw the Broadway show, so I don't know about the ship. I saw a near professional production and the ship came on from the side.

[WildhornFanatic]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 1:14pm

In my opinion, version 2.0 was the best. It just worked soo much better than 1.0, 3.0 and 4.0/ the national tour.

During INTO THE FIRE, Percy and his men are in his living room and during the instrumental section leading into the key change, the living room transforms into a ship. The way they did it on Broadway: the men stood together on a rectangle that was already cut out on the stage floor. Next, the living room sets disappeared, the lifted like an elevator, and the ship set pieces rolled onto stage. It was a stunning moment. Everything happened in about 10 seconds.
Updated On: 1/1/06 at 01:14 PM

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 8:59pm

I personally have the same feeling with SP as I do with J&H: that the version that MTI gives out is the best. Just like J&H this version combines the best of all previous versions to make a VERY good show.

I believe that Wildhorn is VERY talented but that he can't get things done right the first time and that he HAS to rework everything he does (J&H, SP and DRACULA for the Europe run)

[WildhornFanatic]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 11:53pm

I've never seen a high school or regional production of SCARLET PIMPERNEL, but I did see the national tour. Is this the same version that is available? PS: SP isn't available through MTI.

[DreamFlyer22]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 12:56am

I think it's important to point out that the songs which were "added" in subsequent revisions of the show weren't brand new- they had been lifted from that original '92 concept album. So, when they say the score was changed minimally... save for a few lyrical changes... make that none at all. I remember my parents were going to try and get tickets the WEEK the 1.0 closed. Though I've heard the general negativity, I always wanted to see the original version with the original cast.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 11:37pm

Sorry, wildhornfan, I thought I said Tams-Witmark.
Whoops

[WildhornFanatic]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 11:52pm

It's ok.

[justme2]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 11:59pm

I think I saw version two; I remember Douglas Sills and Rex Smith in the SF tour cast, but I think I saw Amy Bodnar instead of Rachel York (thanks Lizzie!).

I loved the show and never understood the controversy around it. The music is very good; it's one of the few cast recordings I can listen to without hitting the skip button once. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and the campy behaviour of the two main actors.

I remember Ken Mandelbaum really backing this show in his column in Theaterweek or In Theater magazine (don't recall which mag was in play at that time) to the point of being annoying about it.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 12:23am

I think its a good show. I really like Douglas Sills & Terrance Mann, I don't really care for the lead ladies voice. I wish they'd send this back out on tour, it sounds pretty cool. The score sounds very Wildhorn to me, which isn't really a bad thing since I really liked J&H. Not sure how I feel about Civil War - I've yet to hear it. I guess it just proves that maybe Wildhorn should have a couple out of town try outs before bringing his shows to Broadway - kind of like Sweet Charity did - or attempted to do.

[zzannahk]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 12:35am

I loved this show, i have absolutely no idea which version i saw or what cast, i think it was spring break(april?) 99. It was really funny and well done.
anyway like every show i see, i always think the "bad guy" is better than the "good" one. When he sang "where's the girl" it was amazing. and the guy who played percy(lead guy?) was a good actor but who the heck would choose him?? (by the way I feel the same way about marius in LM and raoul in poto)

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 12:54pm

I wish someone would do this show here in B'ham I've seen several people sing a song from this show at auditions.

[WildhornFanatic]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 3:18pm

PRAYER is such a gorgeous song. It may be one of Frank's greatest songs ever written.