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Comedy, intrigue, swashbuckling highjinks and suspense in Masquerade Theatre's current production of the classic tale The Scarlet Pimpernel, on stage through February 24 at the Hobby Center.
Set in revolutionary France (and not so revolutionary England), the plot revolves around a group of titles English gents bent on saving their titled French brethren from the guillotine. The play, by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, was originally produced in 1903 in London; an adventure novel was released shortly thereafter. Although critics panned the play, it was a popular success, so popular that the baroness penned 35 sequels and lived out her life in luxury and comfort from the income.
This version, however, features music by Frank Wildhorn with book and lyrics by Nan Knighton. Those who read the classic Pimpernel will find a slightly altered plot - so still a surprise in store!
Masquerade's production starts slow, but don't despair - by the end of the first act, the emotions and drive of the plot have jelled, and the second act moves along rapidly. Although certain segments of the play seem less professional than Masquerade's usual work, Luther Chakrurian (as the Pimpernel) and his counterparts Ilich Guardiola (as Chauvelin) and Kristina Sullivan (as Marguerite St. Just) blend beautiful voices to carry the performance.
Guardiola's brooding darkness is perfect, creating the right combination of sexual attraction and evil exploitation for the role. Sullivan's angelic voice conveys the fragility of her position in the intrigue.
And Chakurian: from foppish and effeminate, as he fools the French authorities, to the swashbuckling hero fighting for what he believes, he is superb. His multiple personalities will have you chuckling in one segment, cheering him on in the next.
Director Phillip Duggins creates a masterful choreography in a second-act dance scene, with characters moving in an intricate pattern - a web - as they spy and plot about the Scarlet Pimpernel. Guardiola's swordfight choreography is equally entrancing, a ballet of the blades.
The Pimpernel will play only one more weekend at Hobby. For tickets call (713) 861-7045 or (713) 315-2525.
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