By Frank Ruhrmund
The Cornishman - Thursday August 30th, 2007
A Perfect Pimpernel
With the help of fair weather, a full moon, a huge bank holiday audience begging to be amused and baying for heads to roll, colourful costumes, a wealth of wigs – so many the company even has a wigs mistress to account for them – and a live band, The Barnstormers lived up to their name with their musical interpretation of the musical The Scarlet Pimpernel. It was, as promised, unforgettable entertainment.
The only thing preventing it, at least for someone as squeamish as myself, from also being the claimed “perfect family adventure” was the presence of the gory Madame Guillotine which really did make heads roll and in an all too convincing way, making ghouls of us all.
It is based on Baroness Orczy’s early 20th century swashbuckling novel of the absurd adventure of an even more absurd band of English aristocrats, The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, during the French Revolution.
The book and lyrics are by Nan Knighton, with music by Frank Wildhorn, and it is directed with pace and panache by Paul Longhurst, who goes all out for the romance and comedy of the piece. It is as likely and likable a Boy’s Own night out – but for the ever present marrow-slicer – as it is ludicrous.
Although there are moments when the music drowns out the dialogue, for the most part, thanks to musical director, Colin Warnock, it is easy on the ear and, all credit to choreographer Fran Reynolds and aptly-named Jill “wigs” Wilson, equally easy on the eye. A word, too, for the fight director Neil Reynolds who gives us one of the most delightful duels I’ve seen on this stage.
The last cast, whether aristocrats or citizens, dancers or prisoners, soldiers or tarts, and whether from Oxted or Redruth, give it all they’ve got and are splendid, while the triangle of lovers around whom the plot revolves are superb. Kristen Calloway is the bilingual and bewitching Marguerite St Just who, one feels, despite her name, wouldn’t know a tin mine from a tumbrel. James Klech is the sanguinary Chauvelin, sho probably has his own customised tumbrel at home. Andy Lingfield is the breathtaking, seemingly languid, elusive and much sought-after leader of the league, Sir Percy Blakeney, and just about steels the show.
It may all be happening during the Reign of Terror but, as someone says, it is done and, from frou-frou to fireworks, this Scarlet Pimpernel is done to a T.
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