Off-Monroe Players — Ruddigore (1993)

Ruddigore

Ruddigore — 1993

Season: Spring 1993

Dramatis Personæ:

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

Peter Scribner

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

Mark King

Sir Despard Murgatroyd, of Ruddigore (a Wicked Baronet):

Bill Hammond

Old Adam Goodheart (Robin's Faithful Servant):

Bob Weeks

Rose Maybud (a Village Maiden):

Melanie Ross

Mad Margaret:

Pamela Good

Dame Hannah (Rose's Aunt):

Jacquie Karash

Zorah (a Professional Bridesmaid):

Lynette Blake

Ruth (a Professional Bridesmaid):

Fran Carlisi

Sir Roderic Murgatroyd (the Twenty-first Baronet):

Jimmie B Lobaugh

Richard's Shipmates:

Doug Waite, Joseph T. Washington

Poor Little Orphan Girl on the Hill:

Augusta Wilson

Bridesmaids:

Julia Ferreira Benedict, Christine M. Dettman, Nancy A. Galletto, Jordu Kelly, Amanda Lobaugh, Angela Maloney, Mary Carol Maloney, Michelle Meminger, Molly Moore, Jean Ryon, Julie Weidman

Sports & Ancestors:

Ted Benedict, Tracy Burdick, Jim Caffrey, Bob Caroccio, Peter Dunbar, David Raymond, David Schafer, Jerry Scrivens, Doug Waite, Joseph T. Washington, Byron Wilmot, Paul Wilson

Production Staff:

Director:

Terry Benedict

Producers:

Molly Moore, Bob Weeks

Accompanist:

Leanne DeVane

Choreography:

Doug Waite, Joseph T. Washington, Terry Benedict

Costume Design:

Brian Smith

Set Design:

Nicolas Ricketts

Portrait Paintings:

Carol Caffrey-Salce, Christine M. Dettman, Nicolas Ricketts, Jerry Scrivens

Props:

Amanda Lobaugh, Bodie McCaffrey, Jean Ryon

Lighting Design:

Michele Denber

House Managers:

Robert Ciaccia, Nicolas Ricketts

Production Assistant:

Mary Zwierzynski-Slack

Program & Publicity:

Bob Weeks

Notes:
First produced in 1887, Ruddigore was Gilbert and Sullivan's eighth operetta, and would have been a greater popular success if Mikado hadn't been their seventh. This is our third production of Ruddigore, and is the first to incorporate the original (and usually omitted) second act finale, "When a man has been a naughty baronet," which we've combined with the traditional reprise of "Oh, happy the lily."

In the original production of Ruddigore, Gilbert called the men in Act I a "chorus of Bucks and Blades," and dressed them in military regalia. We've moved the period of the piece from early 19^th to early 20^th century, and have altered the character of the men's chorus, as well; we call our group of weekend sportsmen "chorus of Upper-class Twits".

And speaking of curses, generations of less-than-nimble tenors thus honor the memory of Durward Lely, the original Richard Dauntless, for it was at his suggestion that Gilbert inserted a hornpipe following Richard's opening song.

— Terry Benedict

Photos by Katherine M. O'Donnell

Ruddigore — 1993 a Ruddigore — 1993 b Ruddigore — 1993 c