Which version of The Scarlet Pimpernel is your favourite!?

I know this isn't supposed to be a serious thread, but I've always wondered about SP4. Where was it done and what were the changes compared to the other versions?

3.0 was my favorite. It's also the version that's licenced if I'm not mistaken.

Thanks Philly. SP1 is my favorite musical. I hated SP2, but never saw 3 or 4, so it's nice to hear about the changes that were made.

I saw it in L.A. with Sills. Was that SP4?

I liked it much better than I thought I would. I enjoyed the show quite a bit, actually.

And my favorite version of the Scarlet Pimpernel is "The Court Jester" with Danny Kaye.

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Yupp SP4 was the tour that had a somewhat lengthy run in Los Angeles and Sills was still with it.

And SP3 is the licensed version to my knowledge. Unfortunately, people like to make their own versions and I've seen H.S./regional productions that have actually made a reprise to You Are My Home which is lengthy with Armand + Marguerite, or they add Lullaby again before I'll Forget You (which is practically always included). I don't actually know if they have the freedom to do that (more than likely not!), but I know they can't use "Only Love."

And SP1 was too boring (I still standby that was the shows downfall. No matter how great the actors were, it was still overall a boring show) with all the dialouge, which is why I like SP4 better. SP3 was just too downsized looking for me though! Somehow, Frank Wildhorn has never disappointed with a great cast (& replacements) for both Jekyll & HYDE and this. It's almost impossible to pick a favourite, other than Sills, which the role is certainly his!

I like "Only Love." It's one of the few songs that actually corresponds with a scene from the book.

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Which one did I see?

Doug Sills, Rachel York, Rex Smith.

What the hell is "dialouge?"

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Yankeefan you saw SP2, the final production at the Minskoff. That's actually, of the three Broadway versions, the one that got the best reviews. I don't even recall if the critics were invited back for SP3, because of the whole Tony thing.

I kind of liked the 1982 movie!

And I completely agree about Marguerite. I felt atleast that Christine Andreas (LOL who SporkGoddess if I'm not mistaken, you're not a terribly big fan of) made her sort of independent, if that's even the word. Like she was always on her own type deal. The book/song changes didn't help the character either. I think "Only Love" actually helped prove that she was knew what was going on. Carolee Carmello did a pretty good job with it too, but Rachel York and especially Amy Bodnar from what I recall really missed the point of the character. Bodnar the most, but I feel like they needed to make it funny to sell the tour.

And Chauvelin in the original book (I only read the first/original) wasn't totally disgusting. Although I cannot recall him being "dreamy" or even that seductive, people looked up to him in a way, but he was much more chilling/frightening than anything.

I don't even remember who Suzanne is. I don't even remember the book too much I should re-read it!

My favourite thing was they decided to add Marie Tussauds to the story. She was so much more strong-willed than Marguerite, which made no sense, as Spork you've definately said.

Haha, you are correct. I can't stand Christine Andreas's singing, but she's a good actress. Carolee is my favorite Marguerite by far. She also looked the part just wonderfully.

Well, Chauvelin's not disgusting, but he's definitely not sexy and I can't even imagine him having an affair with Marguerite. Also, if you read the entire series (specifically, Sir Percy Hits Back), you find out that Chauvelin has a daughter who's only seven years or so younger than Marguerite.

Another issue I have is with their portrayal of Percy. They made him look like he only pretended to be foppish and inane to throw off people, but in the books it really was his personality. He just wasn't everything that he seemed.

This is just me being nitpicky. Like I said, I'm a diehard fan of the series.


As for Suzanne: (Spoiler for the books ahead)



Suzanne was the daughter of the noblewoman Percy rescued and brought to England, who went to school with Marguerite. She ends up falling in love with and marrying Sir Andrew Ffoulkes.

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Updated On: 8/31/08 at 10:32 PM

I hate how only Marguerite has a French accent! What gives?

Douglas Sills was so perfect for Percy in terms of acting and just appearance that I wish he'd been in a movie based on the book. We need a really good adaptation, but now when I do "dream casting" I can't think of anyone even remotely fit to play Percy.

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I wish they would go into a studio and record the score as it is in the licensed script. It's really annoying to listen to the original knowing all of the changes they made later on.