From Angie:
Dear Nan, "The Scarlet Pimpernel" is quite possibly my favorite story of all time, and the musical is simply delightful. However, I never got the chance to see any of the earlier forms before it reached the version that it is now. So I was wondering, was the famous scene between Percy and Marguerite from the chapter "Richmond" in the original novel ever incorporated into any of the versions or even early drafts? Thanks for reading. =)

Dear Angie,

I spent the longest time trying to figure out how to get some of the "Richmond" chapter into the show. I find it hard to believe that any female could read that chapter without getting blitzed in the heart. My favorite part, of course, is when she leaves and he falls to his knees to kiss the step where she'd been standing. Ultimately, it came down to logistics, as it so often does with musicals. There was no spot in the show for such a scene and the momentum and suspense had to keep building. You know, it really is more of a novelistic moment, an intimate, quiet slip of a moment. "Richmond" is such an essential part of the novel, but it carries a very different ambience from the show, which is more kinetic and plot-driven. I still think about it, though, and wish there had been some way to show him kissing the step, but again - I don't think that would have worked onstage the way it does in the book. Thanks so much for your question.

Best,
Nan