Ruddigore

Season: Autumn 2006

Dramatis Personæ:

Zorah (a Professional Bridesmaid):

Carla Cogliandro

Ruth (a Professional Bridesmaid):

Rachel Pasternak

Dame Hannah (Rose's Aunt):

Barbara A. Dick

Rose Maybud (a Village Maiden):

Holly Corcoran

Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd (disguised as Robin Oakapple, a young farmer):

Robert D. Gorski

Old Adam Goodheart (Robin's Faithful Servant):

Tracy Burdick

Richard Dauntless (Robin's foster-brother, a Man-o'war's-man):

Jad Jordan

Mad Margaret:

Sarajane Fondiller

Sir Despard Murgatroyd (a Wicked Baronet of Ruddigore):

Marty Nott

Sir Rupert Murgatroyd (the First Baronet):

Wayne Vander Byl

Sir Jasper Murgatroyd (the Third Baronet):

Ted Benedict

Sir Lionel Murgatroyd (the Sixth Baronet):

Ken Vary

Sir Conrad Murgatroyd (the Twelfth Baronet):

Bob Weeks

Sir Roderic Murgatroyd (the Twenty-first Baronet):

Geoffrey Hopkins

Chorus of Professional Bridesmaids:

Suzanne Bell, Rebecca Bloom, Patricia A. Montrois, Karen Nail, Stephanie Schneiderman, Pamela Torrey, Anne Virgil

Village women of Reddering:

Christina Arden, Ann Marie Buonemani, Julia Ferreira, Penny Fram, Maureen Odgers, Suzanne Rath, Laurel Schneiderman, Anne Vander Byl

Men's Chorus/Ancestors:

Ted Benedict, Terry Benedict, Kurt Griffen, Bill Hammond, Stephen Naum, Charles M. Palella, Wayne Vander Byl, Ken Vary, Bob Weeks

Orchestra:

Piano:

Mark Johnson

Flute:

Susan Comer, Phil Marino

Oboe:

Kathleen Holt

Clarinet:

Stephen Lurie, Leslie Naradikian

Bass:

Paul Towsley

Trumpet:

BJ Comer

Horn:

Alison Currie

Percussion:

Eriks Zurovskis

Production Staff:

Director:

David Raymond

Musical Director:

Mark Johnson

Choir Master:

Charles M. Palella

Choreography:

Terry Benedict

Costumes:

Penny Fram, Molly Moore, and Suzanne Bell

Sets and Lighting Design:

Kelly Flegel

Artistic Consultant:

Patricia A. Montrois

Portrait Photography:

Steve Boerner

Portrait Painting:

Ann Marie Buonemani, Suzanne Bell, Jad Jordan, Charles M. Palella, David Raymond

Props:

Amanda Lobaugh, Stephen Naum

Producers:

Jad Jordan, Amanda Lobaugh, Marty Nott

Director's Note

Following the immense success of The Mikado, the initial run of Ruddigore, or The Witch's Curse! (1887) was, by Gilbert and Sullivan's standards, a flop. The show ran only six months, and was not revived by the D'Oyly Carte Company until 1920. However, Ruddigore was revived regularly after that, and has become a favorite of many Savoyards — including Off-Monroe Players, who have presented it several times since 1977. Deservedly so, as it is a very entertaining piece.

Ruddigore is a parody of 19th-century "thud-and-blunder" melodramas, with many Gilbertian twists. The evil, profligate nobleman (or "bad Baronet") is persecuted by portraits of his ancestors; the sweet young maiden turns out to be quite a gold-digger; the "bumptious" sailor always follows his heart — which tells him to steal his foster brother's fiancée; the mad young lady (who at first seems to have strayed from some bel canto opera) is saner than most of the people onstage. Befitting these different characters, Sullivan's score is one of his most varied, full of charm, drama, and (of course) catchy tunes.

We hope the OMP production of this unusual "new and supernatural" operetta will make you a fan of Ruddigore, too.

Photos by Steve Schmid

 

     

       

     

   

 

   

 

   

   

 

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Last updated: 01/30/10