Beverley Cross (1931–1998)

Beverley Cross' 1985 stage production of The Scarlet Pimpernel - the play of the novel of the play of the novel, so to speak!

A lot of the original text by Baroness Orczy is incorporated into the script, including dialogue between Marguerite and Armand (The Orchard), Chauvelin (The Accredited Agent) - and Sir Percy, in my favourite chapter, Richmond, which doesn't usually make the cut! The 1934 film is another obvious influence.

There are some bizarre changes, however. Suzanne de Tournay is rescued alone, which makes practical sense, but she then inherits lines spoken by her mother and brother in the book - including challenging Sir Percy to a duel! (Marguerite steps in and offers to fight her instead!) And the St Cyr family are renamed, randomly. A game of bowls at Blakeney Manor is introduced, along with a couple of songs, including 'Eldorado' by Edgar Allen Poe, from 1849! The ending sticks close to the book, apart from Marguerite pulls a gun on Chauvelin, and Brogard the innkeeper is now a 'hunchback' (and comes in for some very un-PC abuse).

I looked up the original actors - Donald Sinden, Joanna McCallum and Charles Kay - and they all look rather old for the roles, so I'm glad that I missed this production!

Edit: Apparently, this production was based on a prompt copy of the original stage play from 1905, with Fred Terry and Julia Neilson! Hence the great chunks of dialogue from the novel - which was written first but was only published after the success of the play. And the 1934 film obviously drew on the play, rather than the other way round!… (altro)