A very enjoyable show with the three principals doing a brilliant job. The opening scene was very dramatic and had you hooked from the beginning. The stage seemed a little crowded at times and the dancing reflected this. A very steamy scene between Marguerite and Chauvelin was very believeable with very good acting from Kerry and Ed. Nic played a very convincing fopp in Blakeney and the love story was very well played out. The music was very stirring, but was let down a little by at times quite a cheesy script. The costumes were amazing, especially for the leading lady. The singing was very powerful, by all concerned, principals and chorus alike. All in all a very enjoyable show and I would recommend you don't miss it.
Jayne Gillett, 25/10/07
A stirring horn call opens the proceedings for this regional premiere. 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' story has been told many times since the famous books were first published over 100 years ago. This musical version from Abingdon Operatic Society is a strange breed, in that its music is epic and sweeping yet the script is a little slow and cumbersome at times. However the fine performers at Abingdon have done a great job. The singing ranges from decent to excellent and the three main protagonists do a fine job. Kerry Chaundy is suitably amourous as Marguerite and Nick Coard does a fine foppish performance as Percy Blakeney (so fine in fact that at times you have to force yourself to remember that he is really a hero). Edward Blagrove was excellent and his brooding and strong performance made the villain into a more three dimensional character than usual. The dancing was not spectacular, but it was perfectly fine, though I wonder what more could have been done with so many bodies on stage. Above all this was tremendous fun, and it's also something new, so well worth seeing if you're around the Abingdon area this week.
Tom Savell, 24/10/07
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