“The Scarlet Pimpernel” by Tabs Productions
Nottingham Theatre Royal

Week Three of the Colin McIntyre Classic Thriller Season and the thrills continue with Louise Page’s adaptation of the Baroness Orczy’s classic “The Scarlet Pimpernel”

They seek him here, they seek him there, they seek the Pimpernel everywhere. Sacre bleu!

We are transported back to the French Revolution for a story of blackmail, heroism, faith and romance with buckles to be swashed. Will the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel be in time to save the life of the next innocent victim? Well you don’t expect me to give away the ending, do you? Come and see for yourself!

Andrew Ryan stars as the elusive one, as well as Sir Percy Blakeney. Wonderfully foppish as Blakeney and dashing and heroic as The Pimpernel. Putting the Ooh! into Ooh la la.

A relatively new cast and the six actors throughout made it seem deceptively bigger.

Corrinne Begluk (Marguerutte St, Juste), Anna Mitchum (Suzanne De Basseerive), George Gough (Armand St Juste), Stephen Cherrett (Sir Andrew Foulkes) and Mark Huckett (Citizen Chauvelin) balanced the comedy with the thrills perfectly.

Directed by Karen Henson who utilised the whole theatre for exits and entrances for the actors, making this production an even more exciting watch.

Another brilliant touch was to have the actors dressing the sets complete with balletic choreography, and male actors doubling as ladies in a section similar to "Little Britain", both adding to the pure enjoyment of this classic piece of theatre.

Swathes of sweeping red and white material indulged the set and made a visual impact as soon as the curtains opened. designed by John Goodrum.

As only to be expected in this period piece, the costumes and wigs were gorgeous, befitting the decadence of the era, thanks to Geoff Gilder.

All in all this is a brilliant romp where you know what the outcome is going to be, so no whodunnits to guess, just a wonderful camp watch which will

take you back to those heroic story books from your childhood.

“The Scarlet Pimpernel” is a la Theatre Royal until Samedi 18 Aout – or Saturday 18 August por favour.