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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

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
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

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Marguerite St. Just

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Sir Percy Blakeney

Lead

Male

Tenor

Chauvelin

Supporting

Male

Baritone, Tenor

Armand St. Just

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Elton

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Ozzy

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Dewhurst

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Farleigh

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Hal

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Ben

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Marie Grosholtz

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Phillippe Tussaud

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone

The Prince of Wales

Featured

Male

Tenor

Marquis de St. Cyr

Featured

Male

Baritone

Robespierre

Featured

Male

Baritone, Bass, Tenor, Bass-Baritone

Ensemble

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

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher