Thursday was a fine day for a beheading.

In one of the six remaining Egyptian-style theaters in the United States, Candlewood International and Mainstage Artist Management presented “The Scarlet Pimpernal” at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St.

“The Scarlet Pimpernal” is a romantic comedy/musical set during the French Revolution – complete with beheadings by guillotine.

The original novel written by Maroness Orczy, revolved around the Scarlet Pimpernal, a clever rebel who rescued French nobles on the eve of their executions.

Though there’s nothing humorous about the French Revolution, but there is about flamboyant men dressed as women during the play and engaged in amusing sword fights.

This being said, “The Scarlet Pimpernal” is not without flaw. Several technical problems did mar the performance. At one point, the performance halted as the curtains refused to open. The actors attempted to continue, but the curtains kept bobbing up and down, disrupting any attempt to play it off.

During the final crucial moments, when a guillotine was to behead the Scarlet Pimpernal, the guillotine refused to fall on the first tug. The audience kept good humor about the guillotine, as they did with the faulty curtains. Bravo to the actors, who did a fine job in playing off the problems instead of laughing their heads off.

Andrea Myers, a freshman corporate communication major, said she has seen parts of “The Scarlet Pimpernal” on TV.

“It is a literary work,” she said, “and it’s kind of well known.”

The Scarlet Pimpernal/Sir Percival Blakeney was played by vibrant California-native Rye Mullis.

“I feed off the audience,” he said.