The Scarlet Pimpernel at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse

I enjoyed the Terrace Plaza Playhouse's production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers so much I knew I had to come back! Last night I was able to see their version of one of my very favorite shows, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and I loved it. Percy Blakeney (Jeremy Gross) has disguised himself as the Scarlet Pimpernel and has recruited a band of followers in order to save the people of Paris from the sinister Chauvelin (Maxx Teuscher) and his guillotine during the French Revolution. He keeps his identity a secret from his wife Marguerite St. Just (Jessica Andrus), a Parisian actress, because he believes that she is helping Chauvelin, her former lover. He is also keeping his identity secret from the Prince of Wales (Quin Geilman) by pretending to be a foppish nincompoop. However, he must make his most daring rescue when Marguerite is arrested trying to rescue her brother Armand (Jaron Michaelis). I have attended three different productions of this musical at HCT as well as other productions around the Salt Lake valley and I think Gross is the best Percy I have ever seen. He is incredibly powerful in "Into the Fire" (my favorite song in the show) and very moving in "She Was There" but I especially enjoyed his hilarious physicality as the foppish nincompoop. I laughed out loud every time he mispronounced Chauvelin and could hardly breathe during "The Creation of Man." I also really enjoyed Teuscher's portrayal of Chauvelin, particularly his exasperation with Percy. His rendition of "Falcon in the Dive" is very stirring and he displays more passion during "Where's the Girl" than I have ever seen before. Andrus has an incredibly beautiful voice but she is sometimes overpowered by the music and the ensemble, especially during "Storybook" and "The Scarlet Pimpernel." However, she gives a very affecting performance of "I'll Forget You" (I had a tear in my eye) and I loved her interactions with Gross and Teuscher during "The Riddle." As with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, I was really impressed with the clever use of the intimate space, particularly the staging of "Into the Fire" as the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel travels from England to France by boat and then rescues the condemned prisoners from the guillotine. The choreography is fantastic and I loved how silk handkerchiefs and walking sticks are incorporated into "The Creation of Man" and I loved the intricate patterns created in "Ouilles Gavotte." The backdrop consists of marble archways with flags denoting England or France and various set pieces are brought in to create Percy's study, a garden, and a prison. The guillotine is very dramatic and the special effects used as the blade drops are impressive because it looks very real.  Finally, the costumes in this show are spectacular!  All of Marguerite's gowns are absolutely gorgeous but the outfits worn by the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel take "frou frou" to new levels (I loved the neon colored animal prints). I can't tell you how many times I've read the novel by Baroness Orczy (I love the story) or how many times I've listened to the Original Broadway Cast recording (I love the music) so I have very high expectations whenever I see this show and the Terrace Plaza Playhouse did not disappoint! I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here).