The Scarlet Pimpernel

OK, I am in the play The Scarlet Pimpernel and I just thought it would be interresting to see what people think about this movie/book and how they think of it as a musical number. I will post youtube videos of the songs every now and then, and possibly some script stuff for some help and everything.

Other than that, I think this movie/book is absolutely adoring and I'm honored to get to play in it *even if it's not a big part* but it's really fun and the best play I've done so far, so what do you guys think of it?

OK, I am in the play The Scarlet Pimpernel and I just thought it would be interresting to see what people think about this movie/book and how they think of it as a musical number. I will post youtube videos of the songs every now and then, and possibly some script stuff for some help and everything.

Other than that, I think this movie/book is absolutely adoring and I'm honored to get to play in it *even if it's not a big part* but it's really fun and the best play I've done so far, so what do you guys think of it?

I love the story of Marguerite and Percy! I've never seen a play but I adore the black and white film with Leslie Howard as the Pimpernel.

It's strange but I've been reading about the 'Tartan Pimpernel' Donald Caskie, who was part of the Church of Scotland and helped allies leave Nazi controlled Europe during the second world war.

I've not seen the musical, but enjoyed the (made for tv?) movie back in the day with Jane Seymour and Anthony Andrews. It's definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it.

"sink me!"

break a leg ginnypotter. I'm sure you will have lot of fun!

I read the books (yes, there's a series, about 9 books) when I was a teenager and loved them.

I didn't like the Leslie Howard version, though I thought Leslie Howard himself was a great Sir Percy, but I hated Merle Oberon in the role of Marguerite.

I liked the Anthony Andrews/Jane Seymour version better, though Jane Seymour sounded as French as I sound... er... Russian.

Didn't see the musical.

Good luck to you, GinnyPotter! :tu: Which role are you playing? http://www.avenueviet.com/forums/images/smiles/confused.gif Just curious. :)

It's strange but I've been reading about the 'Tartan Pimpernel' Donald Caskie, who was part of the Church of Scotland and helped allies leave Nazi controlled Europe during the second world war.

Thanks for the tip, YellowRose, I hadn't heard of the "Tartan Pimpernel" before.

Oh, GinnyPotter, I shouldn't have said "good luck", should I? I meant "Break a leg!". Way to go! :tu:

Sink me, my dear! But I do believe you'll be GREAT!

There are some great books out there - "The Secret History of the Pink Carnation," and "The Masque of the Black Tulip" that take place in and around the "time of the Pimpernel." There's one chararcter - The Purple Gentian, who supposedly took duty after the Sir Percy was forced to retire... They're hilarious books. :)

I love the Leslie Howard version, but I've never heard of the musical. Good luck and enjoy wearing renaissance clothes (ah, my favorite part of a period piece.)

I've never seen the movie, The Scarlet Pimpernel is an amazing book. I read it all in one or two sittings.

Yeay, I love how he says Sink Me! And with every sentence that is a statment he makes it into a question, what?

Thanks for the support by the way. Also, I play various rolls. I play a solidure, a prisoner, a cupid, not a love angel thing, but as a lady who sings with Margaritte sp? *I'm terrible at spelling names, :lol:* and it's really high, and in French, :lol:. I'm an understudy for Marie though. :D

Other than that, we have the whole first block memorized without scripts and it's running great. Lot's of fun.

To be quiet truthful, I've never read the books, I may have already said that, what? But the movie is excillent, but it is the musical version, not any of the ones that were black and white? I believe someone said that's what one was?

No, you play a solider, and the movie is excellent. :p Sorry!

Anyway, I really wish I could see you in this, but maybe I'll rent a movie version of it sometimes, or read the books, or both. You'll be awesome, for sure!!

Maybe I'll ask for someone to video record it for me and make a copy of it on the computer, possibly parts on youtube or something.

I notice you're ignoring my corrections now. Probably a wise choice. :D

Anyway, that'd be really awesome!! But probably a lot of work.

Yeah, a lot of cutting, cause you can only have 9 something minutes on youtube. . . I'll find something to post it on and link it to you guys, :lol:.

AAAAAAAA!!!! I LOVE this show so much. Okay, I can stop screaming now. I love the Anthony Andrews version and the book.

IS there a plat about the Scarlet Pimpernel? NEver knew. I read (and enjoyed) very much the books, especally The Scarlet Pimpernel and El Dorado (well, I think it was called so; I mean the one in which Sir Percy tries to rescue the French king's son). I love every scene with Percy and Marguerite together.

I also watched once the Leslie Howard movie, and I loved it. He's so elegant, and Merle Oberon so... French. On TV I watched once a BBC mini-series, with Richard E. Grant and Elizabeth MacGovern. Has anyone seen this version? I had not read the books yet, and enjoyed it a lot. Actually, it was that series what made me get interested in the books.

I live in El Dorado. . . :lol:.

Do you guys want to see some clips?

I live in El Dorado. . . :lol:.

Do you guys want to see some clips?
I was going to mention how ironic that is! :D

And yes!! Of course I want to see some clips!!!

Heck yes! BTW, who's understudy are you?

I love The Scarlet Pimpernel! It is a really great book with lots of feeling and emotion. You are so lucky to be in the play.

Thank you.

I know, how ironic!

I am Marie's understudy. Yeah, she's my best friend so she helps me practice her songs and my songs in French, :lol:.

Alright, here's some clips! They're not from my play, but they are the exact songs we're singing. . .

I don't really like the costume, hopefully ours aren't so big, and you can't here the part I sing because they skipped the cupids until the very end, but here is the first song, Storybook, sang by Margarette.
Storybook (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKX_ROLAx7I)

Here is one of Percy's songs, Into the Fire. It's really good, but the only decent video I could find isn't my favorite. . .
Into the Fire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrOtHeMiPlE)

Here is Madame Guillotine! It's awesome, and this is a play clip, so it's almost exactly as we are doing, the prisoners are in the front instead of the back. . .

Madame Guillotine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evaUxZGJ5w8)

Those are the three that I know all of the words to as of now. When I get more done, I'll get them down. :D

I had The Scarlet Pimpernel for my english class in my 10th standard.... abridged version of course.... and I loved it.... I'm trying to read the unabridged version though but i'm unable to find time... :(

janblack: Please, get an unabridged version as soon as you can!!!! Abridged version should be banished: they spoil the story without giving you any of the fun.

I didn't know there was a musical of The Scarlet Pimpernel. It would never work in Spain because of a very cheesy duet called Pimpinela (=pimpernel) that was in fashion about 30 years ago. The books are not so well-known here as to make people see beyond the title... When I talk about them, people always think they're romance novels or something of the sort.

janblack: Please, get an unabridged version as soon as you can!!!! Abridged version should be banished: they spoil the story without giving you any of the fun.
:lol: I know, I know.... I am trying... honest!!

Yep..the unabridged version is amazing.

I love the way the tension between Margaret and Sir Percy is written.:love:

Top-notch writing, really:tu:

Yep..the unabridged version is amazing.

I love the way the tension between Margaret and Sir Percy is written.:love:

Top-notch writing, really:tu:
I agree. :agree:

There's one big inconsistency, though, at the end of the first book. Spoiler alert for those who haven't read the book! (the scene is in none of the movies I've seen.)

You know, when Sir Percy first shows up, ever the English dandy, immaculate, clean-shaven, at the inn, the time when he gives Chauvelin some pepper to inhale thinking it's tobacco? :rotfl: But just hours later, he's playing the role of this old Jew with his cart, and after he's tricked Chauvelin and his soldiers, and Marguerite finds him, he's dirty, with a few days' beard growth on him? How did he grow a beard in a couple of hours? It wasn't a false beard either! :hmm:

I think it was false, M_M. Anyway, that scene is so good that that that little detail passes unnoticed.

I think it was false, M_M. Anyway, that scene is so good that that that little detail passes unnoticed.
No, dear MmeBergerac, at one point Sir Percy says "I haven't shaved in days!" or words to that effect - and hours before, he was his usual foppy dandy self.

What can I tell you, I'm a nitpicker! ;)

But you're right, that scene is very good, when he starts singing "God Save the King" and ths soldiers all go chasing off, then he lets out a very British "Demn!" and Marguerite is beside herself looking for him, calling "Percy, Percy, where are you?", never once looking at the poor old Jew all trussed up. :lol:

Also when Andrew shows up, and Marguerite had forgotten all about him!!

It was too bad no movie ever had this scene, at least none that I saw.

Hey, well seeing as its been almost a year since we finished this production, it was a really good performance!

No, dear MmeBergerac, at one point Sir Percy says "I haven't shaved in days!" or words to that effect - and hours before, he was his usual foppy dandy self.


Just for the sake of arguing (sorry, it's my favourite hobby), a dandy like Sir Percy would say that as soon as he had not shaved for 24 hours :lol: But if when he's imprisoned in Eldorado he manages to have a shave every day (and by his guards!)! I usually take that phrase was a figure of speech.

Didn't the old movie with Leslie Howard show that scene? It's been so long since I saw it that I don't remember... I think it's my favourite version, if only because the naivety of those old films fits the spirit of the novels so well.

Honestly, I read chapter one and zoned out. I am so not a classics person!