Blackmail, Bribery, and Deception...this 1998 Tony nominee for best musical has it all! A dashing English aristrocrat risks his life to enter France to save lives from Madam Guillotine. His identity must remain a secret to everyone around him. It is a lavish, swashbuckling story of romance, intrigue and comedy bursting with respelndent music.

OC Register: Oct. 26, 2001
"'The Scarlet Pimpernel' gets all the sweep and grandeur it deserves. Director Wayne Bryan and his sizeable, expert cast give this staging the energy it needs, without overplaying the material. Musical Director Michael Borth and choreographer Julie Letsche are inspired by Wildhorn's richly varied score, producing one striking musical number after another. It's DeVries, Huber and Befeler, though, who carry the production, and all three are superb. Tall and fair, with a beautiful tenor, Broadway veteran DeVries is credible as a man of means motivated to heroism in a time of crisis, shrewd enough to pretend to be, in his words, "a silly ass." Huber portrays a lightly French Marguerite of both delicacy and strength - a woman whose cultured facade covers currents of desperation. Her climactic number, the powerfully sad 'I'll Forget You,' epitomizes the soulful center of 'Pimpernel.' Chauvelin isn't a cut-and-dried boo-hiss villain, and Befeler delivers a complicated man driven, on one hand, to pursue his enemies in the most bitter strife and, on the other, by his love-sickness for Marguerite."
COMPLETE REVIEW

Press Telegram: Oct. 24, 2001
"Musical Theatre West's latest project, 'The Scarlet Pimpernel,' is simply the best musical that the theater group has produced since coming to Long Beach. With fabulous performances fast-paced direction, beautiful costumes, a full pit orchestra, plus great set, lighting (Raun Yankovich) and sound design (Julie Ferin), this romantic work is a rousing smash-hit across the board. You couldn't ask for better leads with stronger voices than the trio who carry the weight of this swashbuckling tale. In short, 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' is a total delight and a labor of love from beginning to end. This opinion was shared by the entire audience (including children) who expressed their appreciation with rounds of thunderous applause and a standing ovation."
COMPLETE REVIEW

Grunion Gazette By Robert S. Telford
It's a flashy, colorful show, and it has all those politically incorrect, campy laughs.
COMPLETE REVIEW

The View By P.A. Meadows
discover this beloved story delivered by a talented cast and orchestra (Musical Director Michael Borth); and find what we found that opening night: that our spirit is yet there and our spirits are yet capable of being lifted.
COMPLETE REVIEW