The View
By P.A. Meadows
Onward Ho! Saturday was opening night for Musical Theatre West's 49th season
with the hit musical The Scarlet Pimpernel and pre-show entertainment provided
by the outstanding talent of Long Beach Polytechnic's Jazz A Band. After more
than a month of sitting in isolated shock in our homes, watching television
to get the latest news on terrorists, military actions, and Anthrax cases,
it was a privileged to see our community emerge. When we were all seated in
the Carpenter Performing Arts Center the LB Ploy Jazz A Band members lead
the audience in The Star Spangled Banner. It seemed odd at first; like starting
a ballgame. At first awkwardly, then steadily amplifying the voices united,
heralding our newfound sense of kinship. We were many that had popped our
heads up, put on our fancy dress, and rejoined our neighbors once again. We
were together in this place, celebrating life and art. And what a celebration!
Big ol' swashbuckling adventures with romance, swordplay, disguises, treachery,
comedy, and one of the greatest new musical scores in years by Nan Knighton
and Frank Wildhorn. What to do when the world's turned upside-down? "Play
cricket." "Write a letter." Dear Frenchie Revolutionaries, Please stop chopping
off heads." Our hero, Sir Percival Blakeney (Michael DeVries) on his wedding
night discovers that his bride, the beautiful Marguerite St. Just (Kim Huber)
supplied Citizen Chauvelin (Roger Befeler) with information that led to the
beheading of Sir Percy's friend. Distraught, Percy declines consummation and
calls his closest friends to band with him and wage their own private war,
rescuing aristocrats from Madame Guillotine during the French Revolution in
1794. They do this in disguise, sailing the English Channel and slipping in
and out of Paris confounding many of Robespierre's executions. "A much more
thrilling alternative to cricket." When back home in England, the league of
the Scarlet Pimpernel (Percy's family crest) pose as purring, fancy fops who
worry more about things like how their feathery cravate emerges from their
overly starched collar, or what to wear for the royal ball than worry over
the concerns of state and foreign war. Well, after all everyone knows "these
English have splendid balls." All of England is abuzz with rumors and everyone
wants to know the identity of this masquerading champion that keeps outwitting
the French soldiers. Even Marguerite would never guess that her silly vain
husband could be The Scarlet Pimpernel. He becomes the infamous rogue criminal
that prompts Robespierre to send Chauvelin to England to root him out by employing
Marguerite's complicity. Chauvelin holds the life of her brother Armand (John
B. Williford) as collateral to persuade her to spy for him. Yes, this leaves
a lot to straighten out by the end of the show. Not to worry. It al works
out with a minimum number of rolling heads, a maximum number of laughs. So
don't "hold back your step for a moment." Head to theatre; take your seat
with your fellows; 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. Onward Ho!" The Scarlet Pimpernel - Musical Theatre West
at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St. (Northwest corner
of the CSULB campus) Thursday-Friday 8PM; Saturdays at 2PM and 8PM; Sundays
2PM and 7PM. Ends November 4th 2PM, $20-$40. Tickets and information (562)
430-2324, or on the web at www.seatadvisor.com also see www.musical.org and
www.carpenterarts.org.
