Long before the emergence of El Zorro and Batman, there was Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy and at times silly Englishman who disguised himself as the elusive “Scarlet Pimpernel” to rescue French aristocrats from death in Revolutionary France.

Hungarian-born British novelist Emma Orczy’s (1865-1947) 1905 novel “The Scarlet Pimpernel” is what created the “original hero with a secret identity,” that eventually inspired subsequent and famous literary hero characters such as Don Diego de la Vega, a nobleman whose secret identity is the black-clad masked hero Zorro, as well as Bruce Wayne, an American billionaire who is also superhero Batman.

The musical adaptation of Orezy’s novel is being staged in Seoul for the first time, starring local performing arts stars Han Ji-sang, Park Gun-hyung, and Park Kwang-hyun. 

Just like the novel, the show is set in England and France during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution, and the three actors share the role of Sir Percy Blakeney, the wealthy Englishman in London who secretly tries to save the lives of aristocrats in France.

There are two other musicals that are also set during or after the French Revolution currently being performed in Seoul.

One is Cameron Mackintosh’s legendary musical “Les Miserables,” while the other is “A Tale of Two Cities,” which is based on the novel by Charles Dickens. Just like “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” the piece is set against the conflicts between the rebels and aristocracy during the French Revolution and its parallel world in 18th century London.

Unlike Sydney Carton, the shrewd, cynical lawyer who makes the ultimate sacrifice in “A Tale of Two Cities,” Sir Percy Blakeney is mostly humorous when he’s not the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel. Actor Park Gun-hyung, whose previous stage works include the “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “Zorro,” manages to amuse the audience with the character’s foppish act, including a scene where he brags about his good looks.

Musical actress Kim Sun-young, who enjoyed much popularity for her previous roles including the beautiful and tragic Austrian empress in Michael Kunze’s musical “Elisabeth” and the Joseon courtesan who tries to seduce Jejudo Island’s new minister in Korea’s first homegrown musical “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” plays Marguerite, whose marriage with Sir Percy Blakeney grows cold.

Former girl group S.E.S member Bada shares the role with actress Kim. After S.E.S broke up in 2002, Bada pursued a solo singing career and released four studio albums, including “Made In Sea” (2006) and “See the Sea” (2009), along with three singles. She made her debut in musicals in 2003 with “The Peppermint,” and performed for a number of musicals ever since, including “Notre-Dame de Paris,” “200 Pounds Beauty,” and “Legally Blonde.”

“The Scarlet Pimpernel” runs until Sept. 8 at LG Arts Center in Seoul. Tickets range from 50,000 won to 130,000 won. For more information, call 1577-3363.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)