Oh. My. Goodness. This was without a doubt one of the most unique theatrical experiences I’ve ever had. And not just because (thanks to Marsha…you’re an angel!) I ended up sitting next to Frank Wildhorn and Linda Eder. The energy in that building was incredible. The energy on stage was incredible.
I felt *really* sorry for anyone there who had not seen the show before. They may have been a little confused about why Rachel saying “Thank you for sharing with me my last night at the Comedie Francaise” earned a huge round of applause. Douglas had me *sobbing* during “You Are My Home” when he was too choked up to even sing. I just cried throughout most of this show…even when I was laughing I was crying.
“Prayer” was phenomenal…I mean, it’s always phenomenal, but even more so than usual. Douglas’ “No” at the beginning had me bawling, and then he was crying throughout the song, so you can guess that I was a *complete* mess. “Into the Fire” was beyond fabulous. Douglas’ voice caught again right before the song, when he was showing the bounders the seal, and said, “My family crest…the Scarlet Pimpernel.” So sad!
The painting scene was hilarious, of course! Douglas actually took the painting and turned it upside down, so poor Mary had to spend all of “When I Look at You” painting upside down. 🙂 The garden scene was great, as always, and “Where’s the Girl?” was actually really moving, as Rex was crying at the end.
“Creation of Man” was wonderful, but I even cried in this one, for as they went into the little hankerchief dance, Douglas said, “Gentlemen…last time”. The whole scene in the Prince’s castle was too funny, with Rex pulling the soldiers in front of him to protect him from the bounders, and then instructing them to bring him “papers, documents…pimpys…anything that might pertain to this Pimpernel.” 🙂
The ball in Act Two was great, though we’d hoped to get Douglas to have a little more fun with it. 🙂 He teased us all by announcing “I think I feel a poem coming on!” 🙂 The footbridge and “She was There” were as wonderful as they’ve ever been, and “Storybook” and the jail scene were great too. Rachel was crying throughout “I’ll Forget You”, and even had to stop at one point, so that was terribly sad!! And the whole final scene…from “Is the boat ready to sail, Benjamin?” – “I’m afraid so, Percy”, to Rachel reprising the “you son of a b***h”, was great. I was laughing, crying, cheering all at once. Curtain call was great, and the gift Doug Storm had told me about was in fact a Douglas fountain…”la, we’ll make a fountain of it!”…too cute.
Stage door was crazy…I only really got a chance to have a decent conversation with Doug Storm out of everybody, but I also got the chance to go back on the stage one last time. I miss this show so much!!!!
“It still needs a bit more work.”
Douglas, during the painting scene
“Bring me papers, documents…pimpies…”
Rex, before The Riddle
“Would that be my life, or yours, you son of a b***h?”
Rachel, also before the Riddle 🙂
The Pictures:
Taking the costumes out of the Minskoff…couldn’t they have waited till we left? |
 |
 |
Me, in the Prince’s castle, one last time |
The fountain that the cast gave to Douglas |
 |
 |
Me and other Leaguers with the League banner, later that night |
The cast: (in order of appearance)
Marguerite |
RACHEL YORK |
Chauvelin |
REX SMITH |
Percy |
DOUGLAS SILLS |
Marie |
MARY ILLES |
Armand |
JAMES BOHANEK |
Tussaud |
DAVID MASENHEIMER |
Coupeau |
TIMOTHY ERIC HART |
Mercier |
JEFF GARDNER |
| St. Cyr | MARK MCGRATH |
Ozzy |
HARVEY EVANS |
Elton |
RUSSELL GARRETT |
Farleigh |
TOM ZEMON |
Dewhurst |
JAMES JUDY |
Jessup |
JAMES DYBAS |
Ben |
JAMES HINDMAN |
Hastings |
WILLIAM THOMAS EVANS |
Neville |
CASEY NICHOLAW |
Leggett |
DOUGLAS STORM |
Hal |
MICHAEL HANCE |
Robespierre |
DAVID CROMWELL |
Lady Digby |
SANDY ROSENBERG |
Lady Llewellyn |
PAMELA BURRELL |
Prince of Wales |
DAVID CROMWELL |
Jailer |
DON MAYO |
French Mob, Soldiers and Dancers/ British Guests and Servants |
STEPHANIE BAST NICK CAVARRA MICHAEL HALLING ALICIA IRVING MARINE JAHAN JOHN LATHAN ALISON LORY MARK MCGRATH KATIE NUTT JESSICA PHILIPS TERRY RICHMOND CRAIG RUBANO CHARLES WEST |