 Hungarian-born Emma Orczy's (1865–1947) original play, "The Scarlet Pimpernel", opened in October 1903 at Nottingham's Theatre Royal but was not a success.However, with a rewritten last act, it opened at the New Theatre in London in January 1905.The premier of the London production was enthusiastically received by the audience, running 122 performances and enjoying numerous revivals.