The Scarlet Pimpernel

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.

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

double post

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

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.

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

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."

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

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?

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

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.

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

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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.

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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)

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