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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 is the synopsis of version 1, which is represented by the OBC CD. A synopsis which covers versions 2-4 is located here.
Please also note that all of my synopses contain *PLOT SPOILERS*.
As the musical opens we see the guillotine, waiting to execute its latest aristocratic victims. One of the condemned, the Marquis de St. Cyr, calls out for justice, but only the frenzied, bloodthirsty cries of the mob answer his prayer. ("MADAME GUILLOTINE")
A more peaceful scene ensues - the wedding of Sir Percy Blakeney to the French actress Marguerite St. Just. ("BELIEVE") Marguerite's lively character quickly wins the admiration of her new husband's stiff, Bristish friends. ("VIVEZ") Percy's happiness is suddenly destroyed when a
friend arrives to tell that St. Cyr is dead, and that it was Marguerite who betrayed him. Percy, horrified at the thought that he can no longer trust the wife he loves, sends a puzzled Marguerite to bed alone and cries out to God in his despair. ("PRAYER")
His wife's betrayal fills him with a desire to set things to right. With the help of his closest friends - who are willing, if somewhat skeptical - Percy forms the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel and sets out to rescue innocents from the guillotine. ("INTO THE FIRE") The men board Percy's schooner and sail off on their first mission.
Time fast-forwards a little, and we see the aftereffects of one of the League's daring escapes. Chauvelin, a high official of the French government, is chewed out by the revolutionary leader Robespierre for constantly failing to prevent the antics of the Pimpernel's gang. Chauvelin vows to catch the Scarlet Pimpernel if it's the last thing he does. ("FALCON IN THE DIVE")
Meanwhile, Percy is hiding his heroism behind the face of a ridiculous fop. Marguerite is both hurt and confused at the change, wondering what has happened to the man she thought she knew. ("WHEN I LOOK AT YOU") Seemingly oblivious to his wife's heartbreak, Sir Percy speculates along with his servants and houseguests as to the identity of that dashing hero, the Scarlet Pimpernel. ("THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL")
Chauvelin, newly arrived in England, calls upon Marguerite and demands that she work for him once more. She refuses. Realizing her marriage is failing, he attempts to seduce her back to both himself and his cause. ("WHERE'S THE GIRL?") She angrily sends him away. Percy, walking in the garden, looks up and sees her standing on the balcony of her bedroom. He cannot drive out his love for her, though he knows he cannot trust her. ("WHEN I LOOK AT YOU - REPRISE")
The Prince of Wales summons Percy and his friends to court, suspicious of their many voyages to and from France. They persuade him that their visits are for the purpose of fashion only, and in the process give him an - er - interesting - new outfit. ("THE CREATION OF MAN")
Chauvelin meets Marguerite secretly and reveals that her brother Armand has been captured by the revolutionaries. He promises to save Armand in exchange for Marguerite's help in capturing the Pimpernel. ("Marguerite's Dilemma - Instrumental") Neither completely trusts the other to make good on his promises - and neither knows that Percy is watching from afar, and drawing his own conclusions about trust. ("THE RIDDLE")
Act Two opens at Lord Grenville's ball. Chauvelin warns Marguerite that if she does not find out the Pimpernel's identity for him, Armand will die. Percy upholds his reputation as a complete idiot by composing a ridiculous poem in honor of the mysterious Pimpernel. ("THEY SEEK HIM HERE") Marguerite arranges to meet the Pimpernel at the Footbridge at one o'clock. When Percy arrives, she does not understand, but tries once more to win back his love and his trust. ("ONLY LOVE") He leaves, apparently unmoved. A moment later he returns, hiding in the shadows behind her, and speaks to her as the Pimpernel without revealing his true identity. At his prodding, Marguerite confesses the reasons for her past actions, all due to Chauvelin's schemes and blackmail. She begs the Pimpernel to save Armand. He sends her away, and rejoices privately at the discovery that she is innocent - the woman he loved is still there. ("SHE WAS THERE")
Percy and his friends sail for France to rescue Armand. Marguerite, not content to leave matters up to the Pimpernel, also leaves for France. Disguising herself as a prostitute, she cozies up to two soldiers in a bar in an attempt to learn the location of Armand's cell. ("STORYBOOK") She is seen and recognized by Chauvelin, who tries once more to win her back. Angry at her refusal and at the realization that she will never be his, he sentences both her and Armand to be guillotined and drives her out of his heart. ("WHERE'S THE GIRL? - REPRISE")
Marguerite and Armand await their execution, imprisoned with many other families who will share their fate. As a mother and daughter try to stay strong ("LULLABY"), Marguerite and Armand turn to each other for comfort. ("YOU ARE MY HOME") But Chauvelin, hungry for revenge, allows them to escape in order to follow them to the Pimpernel's hideout. They lead him to Miquelon, a little fishing village, and when they arrive they discover a guillotine already constructed in the town square. While the two call for the Pimpernel, whom they believe has arranged their escape, Chauvelin appears. Marguerite learns the Pimpernel's true identity, as does Chauvelin, and Percy and Chauvelin have a final confrontation. ("THE DUEL - INSTRUMENTAL")
It seems that Chauvelin has won the day, when Percy plays one final trick and emerges in triumph. Leaving Chauvelin in the hands of revolutionary justice, Percy and Marguerite sail home, finally able to trust each other. ("BELIEVE - REPRISE")
During the curtain call, the Company sings "INTO THE FIRE - REPRISE."
See my reviews of The Scarlet Pimpernel OBC, Encore!, and Concept CDs.
