Ruddigore (2007)

Gilbert & Sullivan's
Ruddigore
or, The Witch's Curse

Feb. 16, 17, 23 & 24, 2007 at 8pm
Feb. 18 & 25, 2007 at 2pm

Directed by Alicia Oliver-Krueger
Music Directed by Joseph Sorge

This program is supported in part by funding from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County

Cast

Robin Oakapple aka Sir. Ruthven Murgatroyd - Harv Lester
Richard Dauntless - Peter Oliver-Krueger
Sir Despard Murgatroyd - Robby Thomson
Old Adam Goodheart - David Dubov
Sir Roderic - Tom Goode
Rose Maybud - Laura Wehrmeyer
Mad Margaret - Pamela Butler
Dame Hannah - Patricia George-Houser
Zorah - Wanda Flinn
Ruth - Arthuretta Martin

Chorus - Felicity Ann Brown, Ed Byrdy, Rick DuPuy, Ashley Edmiston,
David Flinn, Tara Hockensmith, Rand Huntzinger, Lyle Jaffe,
Ralph Johnson, Marianna Martindale, Carlton Maryott,
Jane Maryott, Don Mitchell, Sherry Mitchell, Jim Noone,
Julie Repeta, Lynn Ritland, Maureen Roult, Candace Smith,
Nancy Shneiderman, Julie Stevens, Clyde Wright

Orchestra

Violin 1 - Steve Natrella (CM), Bonnie Barrows, Carolyn Larson, Audrey Maxwell
Violin 2 - Martin Brown, Erin Grace, Peter Mignerey, Edwin Schneider
Viola - Amanda Laudwein, Victor Ontiveros
Cello - Andrew Schneider, Laurie Brown, Sheryl Friedlander
Bass - Pete Gallanis, Alice Mignerey
Flute - Jackie Miller, Louise Hill
Oboe - Lori Guess
Clarinet - Laura Langbein, Laura Bornhoeft, Jim Bensinger
Bassoon - Robin Gelman
Horn - James Kocsis, Kathleen Bartolomeo
Trumpet - Bernie Rappaport, Curt Anstine
Trombone - Steve Ward, Alan Potter
Percussion - George Huttlin

Production Staff

Producer - Denise Young
Choreographer - Alicia Oliver-Krueger
Assistant Music Director - Jenny Craley Bland
Assistant Choreographer - Felicity Ann Brown
Stage Manager - Michael Galizia
Assistant Stage Manager - Tony Dwyer
Lighting Designer - Andrew Griffin
Set Designer - Andrew Berry
Scenic Artist - Becky Meushaw
Costume Designer - Denise Young
Costume Construction - Denise Young, Andrea Schewe,
Donna Jaffe, Sherry Mitchell, Maureen Roult, Gaye Freese
Master Carpenters - William Kolodrubetz, Ed Byrdy, James Douglass
Set Construction - Tony Dwyer
Rehearsal Pianists - Jenifer Craley Bland, Judy Gardner,
Deborah Jacobson
Olio Musical Preparation - Alicia Oliver-Krueger, Jenny Bland
Olio Accompanist - Jenny Bland
Program - Denise Young
Graphic Design - John Boulanger
Publicity - Sandy Rovner
Properties - Tara Hockensmith
Educational Outreach programs - Debbie Niezgoda &
Kiersten Whitehead
Technical Director (Rockville Civic Center) - Kim Haug
Theater Supervisor - Joseph Palamara
House Management - Merle Haber
Set Storage - Rockville Civic Center

Director's Note

Gilbert and Sullivan wrote Ruddigore to parody the stock melodrama popular in the Victorian era. All of the usual suspects are represented: the
hero and heroine; the heroine's maiden aunt and the hero's faithful retainer; the villain in black; the patriotic British tar; the wild, mad girl. However, Ruddigore neatly skewers Victorian melodrama's simplistic black-and-white morality. Here, characters are "good" or "bad" not due to personal conviction, but because they've been told to act a certain way. They strive to fill the roles others have laid out for them. Rose earnestly plays the good girl, slavishly following the rules of etiquette to such an extreme that she unthinkingly courts disaster. Despard and Margaret play out the roles of "villain" and "abandoned woman," then try to repress their passionate natures to fit into society. Robin initially tries to escape the role set down for him. When forced to comply, he tries to be a good villain and fails comically. Ruddigore demonstrates the limitations of melodrama's rigid code, as well as the inherent contradictions and false piety spawned by melodrama's facile morality. Richard vows to follow the dictates of his heart--a seemingly heroic sentiment that lets him do whatever he wants without personal responsibility. Robin finally triumphs only when he can manipulate the very rules of morality that bind him to find a contradiction favoring his desires.

Yet even as Ruddigore parodies melodrama, it gives us a sincere love story and a character or two who truly embody their melodramatic archetypes. In Dame Hannah, we have not just the heroine's maiden aunt, but also a faded heroine of an earlier generation. In Sir Roderic, both forbidding ancestor and yesteryear's young heroic villain. While Rose, Robin, Despard and Richard play at their roles, Hannah and Roderic truly filled those roles in their day: Hannah the virtuous young maid who has since made peace with her choices, and Roderic the hero who took up the villain's mantle. In their faded love, we see the genuine article to which their younger counterparts aspire, and the pure ideals and sweet sentimentality that inspired Victorian melodrama.

Synopsis

Setting: June, 1887 in Rederring, Cornwall, a fishing village turned popular tourist destination.

Act l, Outside the Rederring Historical Society at Ruddigore Castle
The Cornish fishing village of Rederring is a popular tourist attraction; it is home to Ruddigore Castle the Ruddigore Wax Museum and a bustling wedding industry. There hasn't been a wedding in ages, so Rederring's professional bridesmaid squad encourages Dame Hannah, head of the Historical Society, to marry. Hannah's niece Rose Maybud would gladly marry Robin Oakapple, but is prevented by her strict sense of etiquette and his shyness. Robin's true identity is Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, Baronet of Ruddigore. The Ruddigore line is cursed--each heir must commit a crime each day or die hideously. To escape the curse, Robin is living incognito with his faithful servant Old Adam. Robin's foster-brother Richard Dauntless woos Rose on Robin's behalf, but is so taken with Rose that he proposes to her himself. Befuddled, Rose accepts, then quickly changes her mind and accepts Robin. Richard seeks out Sir Despard, Robin's brother, who has been living out the family curse since Robin's "death." They expose Robin's true identity. Freed from the curse, Despard marries "Mad Margaret," a village maiden mad with Love for him. Rose agrees to marry Dick Dauntless, and Robin mourns his fate.

There will be one intermission during which the Rederring Historical Society will present an olio of parlor music.

Act II, Inside the Murgatroyd Wax Museum at Ruddigore Castle
Robin is now the villainous Sir Ruthven, and Old Adam has become "Gideon Crawle", evil henchman. At midnight, the Ruddigore Wax Museum comes to life. Ruthven's ancestors confront Ruthven for his failure to commit his daily crime. They demand he carry off a lady right away or die hideously. Old Adam abducts Dame Hannah who melodramatically prepare to defend her honor. Ruthven' uncle, Sir Roderic awakens and immediately recognizes Hannah as his former bride. Ruthven finds a loophole that allows him--and all Murgatroyds--to escape the family curse and live a happy, blameless life.

Musical Numbers

Fair is Rose (Bridesmaids & Zorah)
Sir Rupert Murgatroyd (Hannah & Chorus)
If somebody there chanced to be (Rose)
I know a youth (Robin & Rose)
From the briny sea (Bridesmaids & Richard)
My boy, you may take it from me (Robin & Richard)
The battle's roar is over (Richard & Rose)
If well his suit has sped (Bridesmaids)
In sailing o'er life's ocean wide (Rose, Richard & Robin)
Cheerily carols the lark (Margaret)
Oh why am I moody and sad (Sir Despard & Chorus)
You understand? (Richard & Sir Despard)
Hail the bride (Ensemble)

I once was as meek (Robin & Adam)
Happily coupled are we (Richard, Rose & Bridesmaids)
In bygone days (Rose, Robin, Richard & Bridesmaids)
Painted emblems (Ancestors, Robin & Sir Roderic)
When the night wind howls (Sir Roderic & Ancestors)
He yields! (Ancestors)
Away, Remorse! (Robin)
I once was a very abandoned person (Despard & Margaret)
My eyes are fully open (Robin, Despard & Margaret)
Melodrama
There grew a little flower (Hannah & Sir Roderic)
When a man has been a naughty baronet (Ensemble)
Oh, happy the lily (Ensemble)

Gilbert & Sullivan'sRuddigoreor, The Witch's CurseFeb. 16, 17, 23 & 24, 2007 at 8pmFeb. 18 & 25, 2007 at 2pm