Ron Bohmer as The Scarlet Pimpernel

Ron Bohmer sings "The Riddle" in
"The Scarlet Pimpernel"

 

Ron Bohmer at Broadway on Broadway

CLICK HERE to
Listen to Ron sing
"The Riddle" at 
Broadway on Broadway
September, 12, 1999

Ron Bohmer is

Ron just completed his run on Broadway as Sir Percival Blakeney in "The Scarlet Pimpernel" at the Neil Simon Theatre.

After a mini-tour this summer with stops in Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta - all to great audience acclaim-  Ron opened SP3 on Broadway on September 10, 1999.  The Broadway production of SP3 played its final performance on January 2, 2000.

If you saw Ron perform in "The Scarlet Pimpernel", either on tour or on Broadway, and would like to make a contribution to this web page, please e-mail your reactions to Ron's performance to Kristine.

Read Ron's "Pimpernel" Diary

Visit Ron's Complete "Scarlet Pimpernel" Photo Gallery...because he does SHIMMER so...

CONTENTS:

Read Kristine's Comments on Ron's performance
in The Scarlet Pimpernel

Read Ron's "Pimpernel" diary, describing his experiences leading up to the Broadway opening

Read fan's reactions to Ron's portrayal of Percy

View Ron's entire Scarlet Pimpernel Photo Gallery featuring additional photos from the new 1999 Broadway cast program, exclusive rehearsal photos, ad pieces and opening weekend photos from Broadway!

Ron Bohmer in The Scarlet Pimpernel

Reactions from Kristine, Webmaster

Just when I thought I had experienced the ultimate in musical theatre, Ron is always there to surprise me, to outshine my expectations, and prove to me that, indeed, the best is yet to be.  The great just keep getting greater.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is my favorite musical and contains the greatest male lead in all of musical theatre, Sir Percival Blakeney, aka “The Scarlet Pimpernel”.  When it was announced that Ron would be playing Percy, I was ecstatic – my favorite leading man in my favorite leading male role.  It was a dream come true for me – and for the BohmerBuddies as well.  I am a great fan of both version 1 and 2 of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but I knew that SP 3.0 was going to be very special.

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Ron Bohmer as the foppish Percy Blakeney in The Scarlet Pimpernel
Ron Bohmer as the foppish Percy Blakeney
in The Scarlet Pimpernel

 

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After deciding I would be at the Neil Simon for Ron’s Broadway opening, I couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing him perform before September 10.  I traveled to Dallas to see SPIII for the first time there and I was completely blown away.  I knew Ron would be amazing in the role, and of course I had extremely high expectations for the experience.  But NOTHING could have prepared me for seeing Ron play Percy for the first time.

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As much as I adored Ron in “Aspects of Love”, "Sunset Boulevard", “The Phantom of the Opera”, and “Bed and Sofa”, his performance in “The Scarlet Pimpernel” is undeniably the finest I’ve witnessed.  Ron is the consummate well-rounded performer who shines in every aspect of theatre: acting, singing, comedy, drama, passion – and he uses every resource to express his emotions – his eyes, his facial expressions, his body gestures.  The complex role of Percy, a role in which a performer must act like a character who is acting like a different character, is a challenge, but Ron makes it look ever so easy.  He displays the perfect balance of serious emotional drive, love and passion, heroism and duty - all in combination with the comical, foppish, over-the-top side of Percy playing the “nincompoop”.  He provides the finest portrayal I’ve seen of a Percy who “underneath all the satin and lace” is really a hero who is desperately in love with his wife.  

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Percy and Marguerite are married
The marriage of Sir Percival Blankeney (Ron Bohmer)
and Marguerite St. Just (Carolee Carmello)

Marc Kudisch as Chauvelin and Ron Bohmer as Percy
"No, it's one chau - just one chau"
"You mean like a little doggie's name?"

Percy and the Bounders in "Creation of Man"
Percy and the Bounders do know their haberdashery!

 

Ron, Marc and Carolee in the rose garden
"The Prince's Ball?  Why we too shall be there.  The wife.....and IIIIIII"

Ron in the Drawing Room
"Just the other day he was hhhhhhacking off a Frenchie's ear!"

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The way Ron plays Percy is convincing – it is clear to the audience that he is torn between feelings of love, trust, and betrayal toward Marguerite.  When Ron plays the Pimpernel – the hero, and Percy – the fop, you can detect the existence of one simultaneously underneath the other.  And Ron expresses this depth of characterization with the most wonderful subtleties such as a smirk, a slight frown, a gleam in his eye, a tilt of his head, or a simple gesture.  An important part of Ron’s success, I believe, was his ability to make the character of Percy “his own”.  A more heart-wrenching “Prayer”, a new kind of “fountain” in the garden; a “ting-a-ling-a-ling” to Chauvelin’s black bell; a “you-who….Shooovveelling” with a wave; the "hhhhhhacking" and "hhhhhhell"; an improved, more menacing Grappin; and an outstanding final duel are just some of the ways in which Ron has redefined the role of Percy for audiences to enjoy and savor anew.

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Ron Bohmer and Marc Kudisch in The Final Duel
Ron Bohmer and Marc Kudisch in The Final Duel

 

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I have heard Ron sing some of the most famous and popular songs in musical theatre, including “The Music of the Night”, but, again, I have never heard his voice sound more full, lush, and romantic than it does when he wraps his voice around “Prayer” and “She Was There”.  Equally captivating are his duets with Carolee Carmello (Marguerite) in “You Are My Home” and “When I Look at You” (reprise).  His “Into the Fire” is inspiring and “Creation of Man” is hilarious.  But the songs in “The Scarlet Pimpernel”, unlike other musicals, are so closely married to the story – to the action that goes on while the songs are sung – that a great deal of the effectiveness of Ron’s musical numbers must be attributed to his superb acting.

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Ron Bohmer in "The Creation of Man"
The Creation of Man - greeting the Prince of Wales
with a "Highness!"

The Bounders go "Into the Fire"
"Yes, it's higher and higher and into the fire we go!"

 

Marguerite and Percy on the footbridge
Marguerite and Percy on the Footbridge

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To put it mildly, the Broadway opening was thrilling - a rare, glorious sight to behold.  Ask anyone who was fortunate enough to attend and they would tell you that the reception was outstanding and, with Frank Wildhorn and Nan Knighton in the audience, it truly was like a brand new Broadway opening party.  After seeing the first 4 shows of “The Scarlet Pimpernel” on Broadway that weekend, it became redundant to continually tell Ron that, with each performance, he keeps getting better and better – but that is exactly what he does.  Ron continually refines his portrayal, continually polishes every movement, every expression, every facial gesture.  With each viewing, I notice more and more lovely details in Nan Knighton’s book thanks to Ron.  

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Ron Bohmer and Harvey Evans
Percy tries to convince Ozzy (Harvey Evans) to
 "dangle down a spangle out of sight"		 Marc Kudisch and Ron Bohmer
"Is is true you're no longer wearing lace on your jabot?"

             

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But, the same can be said of Carolee Carmello and Marc Kudisch.  I enjoy their singing, acting, and portrayals more as time goes by.  The 3 of them have a marvelous chemistry on stage which enhances the effect of both the romantic and comic numbers.  All 3 leads continue to improve on an already great musical, one which, in my opinion, has not suffered from a “downscaling”, but which has become a more effective, more intimate, and more endearing musical because of it.

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Ron Bohmer, Carolee Carmello and Marc Kudisch
sing "The Riddle"

 

Percy and Marguerite are reunited
"The measure of a man is on the inside"
"As is the beauty of a woman"

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If you’d ask me now if this were my greatest event in musical theatre, I’d respond with a resounding “Yes!”.  If you’d ask me now if I thought I’d ever enjoy a more thrilling experience with a Broadway musical, I’d insist that it would NOT be possible.  But, history is our greatest teacher and, if history is correct, I now know better.  Sometime down the road, down that Great White Way in New York City, I will not be surprised if Ron once again treats me and the rest of his fans to another more fabulous, more incredible musical theatre adventure.

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Thanks, Ron.  You’re simply the best.

-Kristine
Webmaster,
The Official Ron Bohmer Internet Site

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If you have seen Ron perform in "The Scarlet Pimpernel", either on tour or on Broadway, and would like to make a contribution to this web page, please e-mail your reactions to Ron's performance to Kristine.

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 Ron and Kristine
Ron and Kristine (in new SP costume)
  SPIII opening weekend

Ron greeing fans at the stage door
Ron greeting fans at the Neil Simon stage door
Opening night, September 10, 1999

Fans' Comments on Ron's Performance
in The Scarlet Pimpernel

"I saw SP when the tour came to Houston.  I had never seen it before or even heard the CD, but Ron made me an instant devotee!  What I enjoyed most was how much enthusiasm he brought to his performance as Percy.  And his voice is simply amazing.  Along with his chemistry with the other cast members, who can resist?  Ron is the ultimate Percy."
- Meredith

"I saw Ron for the first time when I went to Atlanta to see SP3.  I thought he was absolutely wonderful - one of the most engaging performers I've ever seen, with a gorgeous voice.  I loved his characterization of Percy - especially appreciated that he didn't overplay the fop - going much more for the inane quality that Orczy describes.  And his despair right before the "Into the Fire" reprise made Percy wonderfully human."
- Clare

"Magical!!  Inspiring!!  Hilarious!!  Romantic!! Just plain MAGNIFICENT!!!!  There is not one word that adequately describes Ron's performance.  It is subtle and skillful and he is in great voice.  Ron owns this role, he IS that great!  It has been an honor to see him in Pimpernel and on Broadway.  Great job, Ron.  Hope to have that honor many more times!"
- Cyndee

I saw Ron Bohmer as Percy Blakeney on opening night in New York.  I fell in love with his voice and his energy on stage.  I can't wait to go back and see him again.  He is truly excellent in the role.
- Kristin

If you have seen Ron perform in "The Scarlet Pimpernel", either on tour or on Broadway, and would like to make a contribution to this web page, please e-mail your reactions to Ron's performance to Kristine.

 

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All program photos by Joan Marcus

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