Synopsis
Ruddigore is a comic melodrama set in a seaside village with a corps of professional bridesmaids who are forever frustrated at not having anything to do. The operetta also features an evil Baronet, a witch’s curse, a mad woman and a gallery of ghostly ancestors.
Under a terrible curse, all of the Baronets of Ruddigore must commit some kind of crime every single day – or else die in agony. Robin Oakapple is in love with Rose Maybud, the village beauty, but hasn’t worked up the courage to tell her. He enlists the help of his foster-brother, Richard Dauntless, who is prepared to woo Rose on his behalf but who falls in love with her at first sight himself. Robin, we discover, is hiding a secret: he is actually Sir Ruthven Murgatoryd and has been in disguise as a local farmer for several years. His younger brother Despard, thinking him dead, had assumed the title and the curse.
Having fallen in love with Rose Maybud, Richard betrays his foster-brother. Robin’s deception is discovered and he must take on once again the responsibility of committing a crime every day. Sir Despard, now a respectable gentleman again, is obliged to marry his former fiancée Margaret whom he once spurned and in doing so sent mad.
Robin, aided and abetted by his servant Old Adam, tries to appease the curse but his efforts are not up to scratch and his ancestors appear as ghosts to warn him of his fate if he does not commit a proper crime every day. Robin decides to carry off a lady and Old Adam chooses Dame Hannah who we know from the beginning of the story had been due to marry a previous Baronet. This is Sir Roderic Murgatroyd who, even as a ghost, is dismayed at the prospect of his former love being treated in this way. Robin must somehow find a way to lead the honest life he loves and wants to return to, but how is he to do it?
Ruddigore is a comic melodrama set in a seaside village with a corps of professional bridesmaids who are forever frustrated at not having anything to do. The operetta also features an evil Baronet, a witch’s curse, a mad woman and a gallery of ghostly ancestors.
Under a terrible curse, all of the Baronets of Ruddigore must commit some kind of crime every single day – or else die in agony. Robin Oakapple is in love with Rose Maybud, the village beauty, but hasn’t worked up the courage to tell her. He enlists the help of his foster-brother, Richard Dauntless, who is prepared to woo Rose on his behalf but who falls in love with her at first sight himself. Robin, we discover, is hiding a secret: he is actually Sir Ruthven Murgatoryd and has been in disguise as a local farmer for several years. His younger brother Despard, thinking him dead, had assumed the title and the curse.
Having fallen in love with Rose Maybud, Richard betrays his foster-brother. Robin’s deception is discovered and he must take on once again the responsibility of committing a crime every day. Sir Despard, now a respectable gentleman again, is obliged to marry his former fiancée Margaret whom he once spurned and in doing so sent mad.
Robin, aided and abetted by his servant Old Adam, tries to appease the curse but his efforts are not up to scratch and his ancestors appear as ghosts to warn him of his fate if he does not commit a proper crime every day. Robin decides to carry off a lady and Old Adam chooses Dame Hannah who we know from the beginning of the story had been due to marry a previous Baronet. This is Sir Roderic Murgatroyd who, even as a ghost, is dismayed at the prospect of his former love being treated in this way. Robin must somehow find a way to lead the honest life he loves and wants to return to, but how is he to do it?
Cast
Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd (disguised as Robin Oakapple) - Stephen Harper
Richard Dauntless (His foster brother, an explorer) - Mike Richards
Sir Despard Murgatroyd (A wicked baronet of Ruddigore) - Mac Hammond
Old Adam Goodheart (Robin's faithful servant) - Andy Alsop
Rose Maybud (The village beauty) - Phaedra Brickwood
Mad Margaret - Jane Souter
Dame Hannah (Rose's Aunt) - Janette Clough
Zorah (Professional Bridesmaid) - Vi Hurdley
Ruth (Professional Bridesmaid) - Shelagh Dimmock
Sir Roderic Murgatroyd - Paul Roberts
Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd (disguised as Robin Oakapple) - Stephen Harper
Richard Dauntless (His foster brother, an explorer) - Mike Richards
Sir Despard Murgatroyd (A wicked baronet of Ruddigore) - Mac Hammond
Old Adam Goodheart (Robin's faithful servant) - Andy Alsop
Rose Maybud (The village beauty) - Phaedra Brickwood
Mad Margaret - Jane Souter
Dame Hannah (Rose's Aunt) - Janette Clough
Zorah (Professional Bridesmaid) - Vi Hurdley
Ruth (Professional Bridesmaid) - Shelagh Dimmock
Sir Roderic Murgatroyd - Paul Roberts
