Overview
Synopsis
Paris, 1794. The French Revolution has reached its bloody climax and “Madame Guillotine” is in full force. The beautiful actress, Marguerite St Just, marries the dashing Sir Percy Blakeney after a whirlwind romance and travels with him to England. However, their wedding night is interrupted by news of Marguerite’s indirect involvement in the execution of Blakeney’s friend, the Marquis de St. Cyr. Fearing that his new wife might be a French spy, Percy resolves to rescue as many innocent men and women from the guillotine as he can. Disguising himself as the heroic Scarlet Pimpernel and recruiting a select group of friends to assist him, Percy travels to and from France, carrying out increasingly daring rescue missions. Meanwhile Chauvelin, a prominent member of the Revolutionaries, is determined to catch and unmask the elusive Pimpernel. He blackmails Marguerite (who is his former lover) and uses her and her brother, Armand, as bait. His plan reaches a climactic showdown as Chauvelin and Percy finally come face to face in the ultimate sword fight. Despite facing his death at the hands of “Madame Guillotine”, Percy manages to outwit Chauvelin one final time.
Show Information
- Book
- Nan Knighton
- Music
- Frank Wildhorn
- Lyrics
- Nan Knighton
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (1905 novel)
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1997
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical, Romance
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- England and France, May into July, 1794
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Optional
- Licensor
- Tams Witmark Music Library
- Ideal For
- College/University, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Bass, Tenor, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
Songs
Act One
- Overture - Orchestra
- Storybook - Marguerite & Ensemble
- Madame Guillotine - Chauvelin, St. Cyr & Ensemble
- You Are My Home, Wedding Dance, Prayer - Percy, Marguerite & Ensemble
- Prayer - Percy
- Into The Fire - Percy, Armand, Ozzy, Dewhurst, Elton, Farleigh, Hal & Ben
- Falcon in the Dive - Chauvelin
- Scarlet Pimpernel Transition - Percy, Marie, Marguerite & Girls
- When I Look At You - Marguerite
- When I Look At You (Reprise) - Percy & Marguerite
- Where's The Girl? - Chauvelin
- You Are My Home (Garden Reprise) - Marguerite & Armand
- The Creation of Man - Percy, Ozzy, Dewhurst, Elton, Farleigh, Hal & Ben
- Marguerite's Dilemma - Orchestra
- The Riddle - Chauvelin, Marguerite, Percy & Ensemble
Act Two
- Opening Act II - Percy, Marguerite & Ensemble
- The Scarlet Pimpernel - Orchestra
- They Seek Him Here - Percy, Marguerite, Chauvelin, Elton, Farleigh, Dewhurst, Ozzy, Prince of Wales & Ensemble
- Ouilles Gavotte - Orchestra
- She Was There - Percy
- Storybook (Bistro Reprise) - Marguerite & Ensemble
- Where's The Girl? (Reprise) - Chauvelin
- Into The Fire (Reprise) - Ozzy, Dewhurst, Farleigh, Elton, Hal & Ben
- I'll Forget You - Marguerite
- The Duel - Orchestra
- Finale/When I Look At You (Reprise) - Marguerite, Percy & Ensemble
- Bows/Into The Fire (Reprise) - Percy & Company
Editor’s Note: Major changes were made to the song list after the musical opened on Broadway in 1998. This song list reflects the current production.
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher