They seek him here: they seek him there; but Twickenham Operatic Society found the elusive dashing Scarlet Pimpernel' at Richmond Theatre last week. Much swash was buckled and daring-do done as rapiers clashed under the shadow of Madame Guillotine.

Marguerite St Just flees revolutionary Paris with her new husband, Sir Percy Blakeney, not knowing that he is secretly sworn to rescue victims of La Terreur. Mandy Hodge underlined her sense of inqute with boldly figured songs such as When I Look at You'.

As Blakeney, Andy Skillen's silky soft singing as dilettante dandy opened to rich potency as The Pimpernel, an action man earnest to counter this war against humanity'.

The Bounders, dedicated to follow the Pimpernel through darkness and danger, were equally able to move between being fops or firebrands. This rich ensemble of male voices filled the theatre as they fearlessly went Into the Fire'.

Arch-insurgent Chauvelin was played by Barry Stevens, as the hard man for whom when the heart goes soft the dagger plunges in'' His impressive vocal strength and powerful presence, eyes ablaze with revolutionary zeal, created an exceptional stage experience.

Set against Richard Williamson's daring atmosphere of tricolour lighting, a large cast gave strong vocal support and spirited acting. Their mob movements and ensemble dancing, although under the tight choreography of Babette Langford, was often somewhat distracting, but the horror of the call to the scaffold and a charming ballet duet were well expressed.

Director Gillian Wade and Musical Director Mervyn Bryn-Jones have created a luscious velvet tapestry of a musical, full of fire and fervour.

Mark Aspen