"Ruddigore" (Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera)

[Bob Pr.]

Saturday night we saw "Ruddigore, or The Witch's Curse," a presentation this last week by KU's Dept. of Music. "Ruddigore's" libretto was written by W.S. Gilbert with music by his longtime collaborator, Sir Arthur Sullivan. "Ruddigore" is not as well-known or popular as some other G&S works (e.g., "The Mikado," "H.M.S. Pinafore," "The Pirates of Penzance") but it is very typical G&S having an improbable premise carried to ridiculous conclusions with surprises, twists, and finally their usual, 'unexpected' harmonious ending.

In "Ruddigore," the premise is that many generations ago, a witch cursed the Barony of Murgatroyd demanding that, every day, each current Baron must do an evil act or else die. "Robin" was the oldest son and due to be the next Baron but, to avoid the curse, disappeared and took an assumed name. His next younger brother therefore inherited the title plus the daily chore the curse requires.

"Robin" returns incognito but falls in love with a local maiden, Rose. Ultimately he relieves his younger brother of the Barony and later manages to lift the curse. But before that happens, Rose is briefly betrothed to "Robin's" foster brother (a common sailor), then his next younger brother (the former Baron), and finally at the conclusion, to Robin. For more Ruddigore detail, see Ruddigore - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Along the way, "Ruddigore" pokes the usual G&S fun at British classes and manners. It has the usual G&S features--love songs, patter songs, much humor--but really popular songs such as found in the more famous G&S operettas are missing (e.g., "The sun whose rays are all ablaze...", "I am the very model of a modern major general," "Three little maids from school are we...," etc.). For a taste of G&S humor and better music, view: YouTube - The Mikado: The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze

This KU production was held in a small, intimate theater nicknamed "the Black Box" no doubt because it's small and its 2 story high ceiling and walls are black. It was a minimalist production: all actors wore appropriate costumes but the set was suggested far more than furnished. Music was by grand piano and excellent. All voices were good and leading characters were excellent--not only that but their acting was also superb. All dance numbers were very good.

The "Black Box" seats about 150 people on cushioned bleachers. It's kind of theater in the half round with half the bleachers against one wall, the other half--separated by the entrance--on the adjacent wall. There's no stage: theater action took place on the remaining floor area. We had front row seats near the center and some of the action took place within 6 ft (2 m.) of us.

8.5 of 10 stars. I felt it was well worth seeing. (If interested, see one of the more popular G&S's comic operas if you're not familiar with them--maybe the movie "Topsy-Turvy" that includes much of "The Mikado.") Topsy-Turvy :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews

ETA: Amazon has DVDs of the most popular G&S operas and there's also a boxed set (of 10 G&S operas) that even includes a production of "Ruddigore" that Amazon's promo specially praises. Many public libraries will have some of the more popular G&S operas (ours does) on DVD; those would give a simpler introduction to G&S comic opera than the "Topsy-Turvy" movie (which portrays the conflicted relationship between G&S along with the work they produced).