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The Scarlet Pimpernel
Music by FRANK WILDHORN ~ Lyrics by NAN KNIGHTON
PREMIERE: November 9, 1997 ~ MINSKOFF THEATRE ~ New York City, New York, USA
There have been 4 versions of The Scarlet Pimpernel to date. This synopsis is more or less correct for versions 2-4 and the regional productions, but the original version which is represented by the OBC CD was extremely different; that synopsis is located here.
Please also note that all of my synopses contain *PLOT SPOILERS*.
As the show opens, a young woman appears alone onstage in an elaborate theatrical costume, complete with a ridiculously large wig. This is Marguerite St. Just, a well-known and popular actress. She interrupts her song to explain that this is her farewell performance because she is going to England to be married to Sir Percy Blakeney, who is seated in one of the boxes to the side of the stage. ("STORYBOOK") As she resumes her song, Chauvelin (an important revolutionary) marches on accompanied by soldiers and declares the theater closed. Marguerite demands to know why he can't wait until after the performance. He is angry that she never told him about her impending wedding; it becomes obvious that these two were once romantically involved. He threatens to tell her husband about his relationship with her if she does not betray the St. Cyr family. She agrees to tell him where they are hiding so long as he promises they will only be deported, not killed. Sir Percy and Chauvelin exchange a few words in which it becomes clear that neither likes the other. The scene changes to the streets of Paris, where the St. Cyrs are being driven to the guillotine in a tumbril. ("MADAME GUILLOTINE") Chauvelin expresses his revolutionary zeal, backed up by a roaring crowd of Parisians.
We switch to England and to the happy scene of Percy and Marguerite's wedding. ("YOU ARE MY HOME") But halfway through the festivities Percy's friend Dewhurst arrives with terrible news: the St. Cyrs are dead, and Marguerite has denounced them. When Percy refuses to believe it Dewhurst produces the note in which Marguerite betrayed the family. Percy is still skeptical, but tells Dewhurst to write an answer from Chauvelin across the note and deliver it to Marguerite, sure that she will immediately clear herself. When she pretends it is a note of congratulations from an old friend, Percy is devastated. After the guests leave, he sends a confused Marguerite to bed alone and expressis his anguish at the realization that he can no longer trust his wife. ("PRAYER")
Percy falls asleep in a chair in his library. He is awakened the next morning by his enthusiastic friends, who insist that according to longstanding tradition the groom must go play cricket with them the morning after. They are shocked to find him still in his wedding clothes and demand to know what is wrong. Percy tells them that St. Cyr is dead and asks them to join him in a desperate quest to fight against the terrible events taking place in France. Thus the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel is formed. ("INTO THE FIRE") Marguerite's little brother Armand overhears their plan and begs to be included; he is admitted on condition that he swears to mention nothing to Marguerite. The eight men sail off to France and manage to rescue Marie Grosholtz, a costumer from Marguerite's old theater, from the very mouth of the guillotine. Chauvelin discovers his prisoners flown and his soldiers tied up and becomes enraged; apparently this is not the first time the League has bested him. Robespierre appears and demands that Chauvelin catch the Scarlet Pimpernel, adding that in order to do so he must work with a Belgian spy called Grappin. Grappin arrives, and we realize that it is actually Percy in disguise. Chauvelin vows to catch the Scarlet Pimpernel if it's the last thing he does. ("FALCON IN THE DIVE") He sends Grappin to England, telling him to spy on Lady Blakeney, as the Pimpernel is surely a member of her social circle.
Meanwhile, Marguerite is upset and miserable in married life. She watches as Percy plays the idiot and (along with a chorus of silly maids) speculates wildly about the identity of the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel. ("THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL") As Percy poses for a portrait (painted by Marie) Marguerite wonders what has happened to the man she used to know. ("WHEN I LOOK AT YOU") A servant appears and announces that she has a visitor waiting in the garden. As she leaves, Percy grieves for the trust that is no longer present in their marriage. ("WHEN I LOOK AT YOU (REPRISE)")
Marguerite's visitor is Chauvelin. He wants her to help him find the Scarlet Pimpernel, and threatens to tell her husband about their previous relationship unless she does what he asks. This backfires when Marguerite laughs and remarks that Percy would hardly care one way or the other. Chauvelin begins to make advances but is interrupted by Percy's arrival. In order to conceal his true identity as the Pimpernel from Chauvelin, Percy acts the foolish fop. An amusing scene ensues as he attempts to master the prononciation of Chauvelin's name, finally settling on "Shovelin." When he finally leaves, a horrified Chauvelin offers to take Marguerite back to France with him right away, revealing that he still has feelings for her. ("WHERE'S THE GIRL") Marguerite nearly gives in but angrily sends him away. Once he leaves, she runds into Marie and Armand, who explain that they are going back to France to help Marie's fiancé, Pierre Tussaud. Marguerite worries about Armand's safety and tells him that if anything happens to him she will be left completely alone. He tries to comfort her, reminding her of her husband, but he has sworn not to tell her the truth. ("YOU ARE MY HOME (REPRISE)")
We change to Percy, who is clad in a ridiculous and silly outfit, as his valet comes in to announce that "the gentlemen have been readied." The Bounders enter, all clad in an equally silly style. Percy explains to them that the Prince of Wales is suspicious of their frequent trips to France, and in order to conceal their secret they must all pretend to be complete nincompoops. ("THE CREATION OF MAN") The suceed in fooling the Prince. At court they meet Chauvelin, who has business with the Prince concerning the Scarlet Pimpernel. He is still determined to put an end to the League's rescues. ("MADAME GUILLOTINE (REPRISE)")
Marguerite appears, having been summoned by Chauvelin. He reveals that Armand has been captured, and offers her an exchange: her brother's safety for the Pimpernel. She is wary of trusting him after he lied to her about the St. Cyrs, but is desperate to save her brother. Percy interrupts again, obviously suspecting his wife of cooperation with Chauvelin. ("THE RIDDLE")
Act two begins at the Prince's Ball, where all anyone can talk about is that dashing Scarlet Pimpernel. ("THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (REPRISE)") Percy even composes a silly poem about the mysterious hero, which is eagerly taken up by all the guests. ("THEY SEEK HIM HERE") As the guests dance, Chauvelin urges Marguerite to find out who the Pimpernel is. She questions Ozzy and Farleigh, two of the Bounders, who warn Percy that his wife is up to something. She asks Farleigh to tell the Pimpernel to meet her on the footbridge at one o'clock about a matter of life and death.
At the footbridge, Marguerite arrives early. Percy enters and speaks to her with a disguised voice, without letting her turn around to see who he is. She warns him that Chauvelin will arrive any minute, and he demands to know why she is doing Chauvelin's dirty work for him. She tells him about her past and Chauvelin's threats, adding that she acted out of a terrible fear that her husband would leave her if he knew. She begs him to save Armand. Percy can barely contain his elation at realizing that his wife is not the spy he thought she was, but assures her that he will rescue her brother. He sends her away, and expresses his joy at regaining his lost trust. ("SHE WAS THERE") Chauvelin arrives, but Percy's fop act is so convincing that Chauvelin does not guess his identity. Percy and the Bounders leave for France to save Armand.
Marguerite is not content to sit by and hope the Pimpernel will help her brother, so she too travels to France. Disguised as a prostitute, she attempts to gain access to Armand by cozying up to two soldiers, but she is recognized by Chauvelin and unmasked. ("STORYBOOK (REPRISE)") Chauvelin arrests her. She is brought to see Armand, but even she cannot make him betray the Pimpernel, despite his weakness from torture and questioning. Chauvelin attempts once more to seduce her, but she slaps him. Enraged, he sends her away, and together with Grappin conceives a plot to trap the Pimpernel. He will stage an escape and allow Armand and Marguerite to lead him straight to the Pimpernel's hiding place. He eagerly anticipates both the capture of the Pimpernel and revenge on Marguerite in a single stroke; all his love for her has turned to hatred. ("WHERE'S THE GIRL (REPRISE)")
Percy returns to the hideaway and removes his Grappin disguise, warning the Bounders of Chauvelin's plan. He insists that things are getting too dangerous and tells them to return to England. They refuse to let him embark on such a dangerous mission alone. ("INTO THE FIRE (REPRISE)")
Marguerite and Armand await execution in prison. Armand is hopeful that Percy will save them, but Marguerite still does not know her husband's identity and misunderstands him. She tries to drive Percy out of her heart, but fails. ("I'LL FORGET YOU") As they are called for execution, they escape according to Chauvelin's plans. As they ride away, Armand refers to their rescue as Percy's doing, but when questioned laughs it off as a slip of the tongue. When he does it again, Marguerite realizes the truth: Percy and the Pimpernel are one and the same.
They arrive at the League's headquarters in the fishing village of Miquelon only to discover that since Armand was last their a guillotine has been set up. They search for Percy but it is Chauvelin who answers their calls. He is horrified when he realizes the Pimpernel's true identity. Percy arrives disguised as Grappin and confirms that Blakeney is the Pimpernel, but adds that the man has escaped. Chauvelin sends all but one group of soldiers away to pursue him. Percy slips up when he is still able to produce the Pimpernel's ring, and when questioned removes his disguise. Chauvelin challenges him to a duel. They fight, exchanging taunts as well as swordthrusts. Finally Chauvelin comes out on top, disarming Percy and holding a sword to his throat. Percy defiantly demands to be killed now, on his feet, rather than submit to the indignity of lying down for "your bloody guillotine." Chauvelin, drunk with vengeance, orders that Percy be guillotined. It is done, and Chauvelin stands triumphant over the despairing Marguerite and Armand. His victory is short-lived, however; Percy appears with his head still on, astonishing his enemy, who points speechlessly to the head in the basket at the foot of the guillotine. Marie enters, and holds up a realistic-looking wax head. Percy congratulates her on her skill, then reminds the audience that she and Pierre have recently been married and she is now Madame Tussaud. Chauvelin orders his soldiers to arrest Percy but they do not respond. In fact, they are revealed to be Percy's men in disguise, and instead tie Chauvelin to the guillotine. For a finishing touch, Percy puts the Pimpernel's ring on his enemy's finger. The victorious League boards Percy's ship, and husband and wife are at last reconciled. ("WHEN I LOOK AT YOU (REPRISE 2)")
See my reviews of The Scarlet Pimpernel OBC, Encore!, and Concept CDs.
