The Scarlet Pimpernel (musical)
| The Scarlet Pimpernel | |
|---|---|
 Original Cast Recording | |
| Music | Frank Wildhorn |
| Lyrics | Nan Knighton |
| Book | Nan Knighton |
| Basis | Baroness Orczy's novel The Scarlet Pimpernel |
| Productions | 1997 Broadway (SP 1.0)
1998 Broadway (SP 2.0) 1999 National Tour Engagements (SP 2.5) 1999 Broadway (SP 3.0) 2000 National Tour (SP 4.0) 2001 Finland 2002 Mexico 2003 Germany 2007 Sweden 2008 Hungary 2008 Tokyo |
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a musical by composer Frank Wildhorn and lyricist Nan Knighton, based on the novel of the same name by Baroness Orczy. The show is set in England and France during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution. The story is a precursor to the spy fiction and the superhero genres, where a hero hides under a mild-mannered alias.
The musical debuted on Broadway on November 9, 1997. It started as a workshop with Carolee Carmello as Marguerite directed by Nick Corley, following a concept album (and Top 40 Adult Contempory Hit - "You Are My Home"). With failing ticket sales, the show ushered in new producers and reopened with two new leads and a vastly rearranged piece in October 1998 (A year after the previous opening). The show closed at the Minskoff Theatre on May 30, 1999; after a mini-tour of a scaled-down version of the show in the Summer of '99 with 3 new leads, it re-landed on Broadway, Officially opening September 7, 1999. It closed on January 2, 2000. A national tour begin, with Douglas Sills, the Tony-Nominated actor, re-created his role with two new leads in February of that year.
Like Wildhorn's two other big budget broadway efforts (Jekyll & Hyde and The Civil War), the musical closed having lost money.
Productions
The Scarlet Pimpernel opened at the Minskoff Theater on October 7 1997, directed by Peter H. Hunt, with Douglas Sills in the lead role of Sir Percy, Christine Andreas playing Marguerite, and Terrence Mann in the role of the villain, Citizen Chauvelin. In June shortly before the Tony Awards were announced, the show was slated to close. The show's fans known as "The League" decided it should have another try. In October of 1998 it reopened at the Minskoff with Sills, Rex Smith and Rachel York; After a brief tour in the sumer of 1999, it reopened as "Scarlet Pimpernel 3.0" starring Ron Bohmer, Marc Kudisch and Carolee Carmello and closed on 2 January 2000. The National Tour ran from 20 February 2000 to 1 April 2001. The touring version starred Sills who was replaced by Robert Patteri and finally Ron Bohmer.
The musical has enjoyed numerous regional U.S. productions and has been produced in Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Canada and Mexico, as well as Malta and Norway, among others.
It has also been produced by the Japanese Takarazuka Revue under the guidance of Frank Wildhorn, which had previously commissioned Never Say Goodbye from Wildhorn in 2006. The show ran from June to October 2008 and was performed by the group's Star Troupe. It starred Kei Aran as Percy, Asuka Tono as Marguerite, and Reon Yuzuki as Chauvelin.
Recordings
Commercial recordings
- Concept Album (1992)
- Features Chuck Wagner as Percy, Linda Eder as Marguerite and David Clemmons as Chauvelin. Orchestrations on this album are more contemporary versions than are found in other recordings of the show. Songs that are exclusive to this release are: "Home Again," "Marguerite" (Substituted later for "Where's The Girl?"), "Now When The Rain Falls," "Our Separate Ways" and "There Never Was A Time."
- Original Broadway Cast Album (1998)
- Features Douglas Sills as Percy, Christine Andreas as Marguerite and Terrence Mann as Chauvelin. This recording has songs from the first version of the Broadway production which had some major alterations later on.
- Encore! Album (1999)
- Features the same cast as the OBC Album. This recording was created to reflect the changes in the production when the first version didn't live up to expectations on broadway. Only four songs were re-recorded for this album. Rex Smith recorded "Where's The Girl" and "Falcon In The Dive" while Rachel York sings "Storybook" and "I'll Forget You." Also included are two songs from the concept album, "You Are My Home" and "Only Love."
- German Highlights (2003)
- Features Christoph Goetten as Percy, Ann-Christin Elverum as Marguerite and Christopher Murray as Chauvelin.
- See: http://www.castalbums.org/recordings/5205
- Austrian Highlights (2007)
- See: http://www.castalbums.org/recordings/7787
- Norwegian Cast (2008)
- See: http://www.castalbums.org/recordings/12632
Demo/Promotional recordings
- Pre-Broadway Demo (1996)
- Features Chuck Wagner as Percy, Linda Eder as Marguerite and Michael Lanning as Chauvelin. Similar to the concept recording above but with a few new songs and orchestrations that aren't in the contemporary style that the concept recording featured. Rob Evan and others also sang on this demo. The one song exclusive to this release is "High Time."
- See: http://www.castalbums.org/recordings/6619
- Hungarian Promo (2007)
- See: http://www.castalbums.org/recordings/6802
Plot
(The following is the current version, SP 4.0) Act 1 After the overture plays, we are taken to La Comedie Frenchaise, an elegant theatre where Marguerite St. Just is performing in her final show ("Storybook"). As she announced to the crowd of her marriage to Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English aristocrat, Citizen Chauvelin closes the theatre, before the performance is even over. The two leave for England, and Citizen Chauvelin oversees several guillotine sentences in the miserable streets of Paris ("Madame Guillotine"). Percy and Marguerite wed in England ("You Are My Home"). However, on the night of their wedding, Percy learns that his wife betrayed his friend the Marquis de St. Cyr to the Revolutionary government, ultimately leading to the Marquis' execution by the guillotine ("Prayer"). The Blakeneys' marriage grows cold and Percy determines to make amends for his friend's death by saving other innocents from the guillotine. Thus, he takes on the identity of "the Scarlet Pimpernel" and convinces some of his friends (subsequently called "bounders") to join him in his daring rescue attempts. The band pretend to be inane fops, effectively throwing off any suspicions about the identity of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel ("Into the Fire").
The league rescues several potential victims of the guillotine in Paris the following day ("The Rescue"). Then the French agent Chauvelin is sent to England with orders from Robbespiere to discover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel ("Falcon in the Dive"). Chauvelin sets for England, in hopes that Marguerite will help him once more.
Marie, Marguerite's old costume/theatre designer and best friend, is painting Percy. Marguerite cannot seem to understand how he is so drastically different from the man whom she married ("When I Look At You"). She excuses herself when talk of the Pimpernel comes to fluster and bewilder the women in her parlor ("The Scarlet Pimpernel"). Armand, Marguerite's brother and a secret member of the league, tells her that he is leaving; upset because he is the only one whom Marguerite feels she can fully trusts, begs him to stay, but he leaves ("You Are My Home (Reprise)"). Percy looks out of his balcony to see her in awe, yet at the same time confused at how he should act around her ("When I Look At You (Reprise)"). Then, Chauvelin comes in attempts to convince her to join him in his mission to snatch the Pimpernel, who the French believe is a member of their circle ("Where's the Girl?"). She tells him to leave.
Percy and the league are getting ready for the big ball the following evening. He tells them it's the man's duty to dress elegantly and they all display the latest fashion ("The Creation of Men"). Marguerite then receives a note. It is from Chauvelin, now standing in the house, who enlists the aid of Marguerite, threatening to have her brother Armand, also a member of the League, guillotined if she refuses ("Marguerite's Dilemma"). Confused, she is unsure if she can trust him -- but he is unsure if he can trust her; furthermore, can Percy trust his wife with whom he sees talking to Chauvelin? ("The Riddle")
Act 2
At Lord Grenville's Ball, Percy and the others discuss the Pimpernel, whom they all know is there that evening, but no one will say it ("The Scarlet Pimpernel"). He then tells them a poem he has created in honor of the Pimpernel ("They Seek Him Here").
Suddenly, Marguerite leaves and manages to have a conversation with the Scarlet Pimpernel, who remains hidden in the shadows, keeping his identity concealed. She tells him of Chauvelin's plans and explains that she betrayed the Marquis de St. Cyr under coercion. The Scarlet Pimpernel, Percy, now understands why he has loved Marguerite all along -- and that she has remained the same ("She Was There"). The league then sets out for France in order to save Armand ("She Was There (Reprise)").
Still unaware of the Pimpernel's identity, Marguerite does the same. Disguised as a tart, Marguerite attempts to uncover information about her brother, but is quickly recognized and apprehended by Chauvelin ("Storybook (Reprise)"). While Chauvelin admires her courageous efforts, he is angry that she was going against his wishes, and therefore sends her to prison ("Where's the Girl? (Reprise)").
Marguerite finds her brother Armand in prison, and the two console in each other; Armand assures her that The Pimpernel, who he reveals as Percy by accident, will save them ("You Are My Home (Reprise)"). Unbelieving that Percy is the Pimpernel and that no one will come for them, she mourns the loss of him and of her life ("I'll Forget You"). However, Chauvelin allows the two to escape, knowing that Armand will head for the hide-out of the Scarlet Pimpernel. They find him in a town on the French coast, where Marguerite learns her husband's true identity ("Armand and Marguerite Escape Prison").
Chauvelin confronts the Scarlet Pimpernel, Percy, in a duel. Marguerite steps in several times to help Percy, but Chauvelin still wins ("The Duel"). Percy is then immediately sentenced to the guillotine. However, he outwits Chauvelin one last time - Marie (who is now Marie Tussaud) has created a fake wax head to fool Chauvelin.
Percy, Marguerite, and Armand escape safely to England, after tieing Chauvelin up and revealing him as the Pimpernel. Marguerite and Percy confide in each other the true love that they have always had for each other ("When I Look at You (Reprise)").
Characters
- Marguerite St.Just**
- Percy Blakeney** (Grappin & The Scarlet Pimpernel)
- Chauvelin**
- Armand St.Just**
- Marie Grosholtz**
- St. Cyr*
- Tussaud
- Mercier (aid to Chauvelin)
- Coupeau (aid to Chauvelin)
- Jessup (Butler to Percy)
- Ozzy* (Bounder)
- Dewhurst* (Bounder)
- Elton* (Bounder)
- Farleigh* (Bounder)
- Hal* (Bounder)
- Ben* (Bounder)
- Prince of Wales*
- Robespierre
- Sentry (Royal Palace)
- SATB Chorus - Cupids of the Comedie Francaise, Soldiers, Prisoners, Paris Street Mob, Royal Ball Guests, Six Girl Servants at the Blakeney Estate
(**) five principal vocal parts
(*) eight sub-principal vocal parts
Songs
|
|
However, changes were made to the songlist after a number of previews on Broadway. A revised song list is:
|
|
Cast Lists
(Roles are listed in order of importance)
SP 1.0 : The Original Broadway Cast (Minskoff)
|
|
SP 2.0 : The Replacement Broadway Cast (Minskoff)
|
|
SP 3.0 : The Neil Simon Theatre Broadway Cast
|
|
SP 4.0 : The National Tour
|
|
Awards and nominations
1998 Tony Award nominations
- Tony Award for Best Musical - Produced by Pierre Cossette, Bill Haber, Hallmark Entertainment, Ted Forstmann, Kathleen Raitt
- Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical - Nan Knighton
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical - Douglas Sills
1998 Drama Desk Award nominations
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical - Douglas Sills
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music - Frank Wildhorn
1998 Theatre World Award
- Theatre World Award - Douglas Sills (WINNER)