The Ghosts of Ruddigore* (2018)
NOTE: This was the traditional production of Ruddigore, but using Opera della Luna's title with their permission.
Production Team
Stage Director - Dean Sinclair
Musical Director - Rod Mounjed
Associate Director & Choreographer - Sarah Pearce
Costumier - Sandra Tutt
Musical Director - Rod Mounjed
Associate Director & Choreographer - Sarah Pearce
Costumier - Sandra Tutt
Principal Cast
A very big thanks for everyone who auditioned for Ruddigore! The competition for principal roles was excellent this year; with top-level talent demonstrated by all. We are very pleased to announce the principal cast:
Rose Maybud: Kate Wilmot
Mad Margaret: Elizabeth Lowrencev
Dame Hannah: Megan Chalmers
Zorah: Bernice Zandona
Ruth: Bridget Wood
Robin Oakapple: Chris Lewis
Richard Dauntless: Daniel Verschuer
Sir Despard Murgatroyd: Andrew Pennycuick
Sir Roderic Murgatroyd: Tobias Page
Old Adam Goodheart: Dean Sinclair
UNDERSTUDIES
Bernice Zandona (Rose Maybud)
Joann Balasuriya (Zorah)
Nick Whiley (Sir Roderic Murgatroyd)
Chorus
BRIDESMAIDS & BRIDAL SHOP LADIES: Joann Balasuriya, Kyran David, Marie Deverill, Angelica Lake-Brown, Candy McInerney, Grace McInerney, Emma Meredith, Mary O’Byrne, Ines Paxton, Dawn Pugh, Charlotte Pugh, Rose Sapuppo
GENTRY, VILLAGERS & GHOSTS: Scott Crichton, Wayne Davies,
Colin McLaughlin, Terry Matthews, John Millen, Gary Selby, Nick Whiley, John Wollaston
Rose Maybud: Kate Wilmot
Mad Margaret: Elizabeth Lowrencev
Dame Hannah: Megan Chalmers
Zorah: Bernice Zandona
Ruth: Bridget Wood
Robin Oakapple: Chris Lewis
Richard Dauntless: Daniel Verschuer
Sir Despard Murgatroyd: Andrew Pennycuick
Sir Roderic Murgatroyd: Tobias Page
Old Adam Goodheart: Dean Sinclair
UNDERSTUDIES
Bernice Zandona (Rose Maybud)
Joann Balasuriya (Zorah)
Nick Whiley (Sir Roderic Murgatroyd)
Chorus
BRIDESMAIDS & BRIDAL SHOP LADIES: Joann Balasuriya, Kyran David, Marie Deverill, Angelica Lake-Brown, Candy McInerney, Grace McInerney, Emma Meredith, Mary O’Byrne, Ines Paxton, Dawn Pugh, Charlotte Pugh, Rose Sapuppo
GENTRY, VILLAGERS & GHOSTS: Scott Crichton, Wayne Davies,
Colin McLaughlin, Terry Matthews, John Millen, Gary Selby, Nick Whiley, John Wollaston
Dean Sinclair, Stage Director
This year, Dean takes on a new challenge with G&S Opera Sydney as the Stage Director for our 2018 production of The Ghosts of Ruddigore!
Operetta (G&S in particular) features extensively in Dean’s musical theatre experience. He loves the G&S comedic roles, having played Reginald Bunthorne in Patience, Sir Joseph Porter in HMS Pinafore, Ko Ko in The Mikado, The Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe, Robin Oakapple in Ruddigore – and most recently The Duke of Plaza-Toro in The Gondoliers for Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Sydney.
Amongst other roles, Dean has sung Cyril in Princess Ida, Ralph Rackstraw in HMS Pinafore, Dr Daly in The Sorcerer, Grosvenor in Patience, Jack Point in The Yeomen of the Guard, & Luiz in The Gondoliers. His further light opera outings have included roles in such musical gems as The Arcadians, Showboat, The Gypsy Baron, and The Count of Luxembourg.
Dean particularly loves singing the beautiful songs of Ivor Novello, Franz Lehar, Jerome Kern, & Noel Coward, many of which he’s rendered in concert performances across Sydney.
Dean is currently President of Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Sydney.
Operetta (G&S in particular) features extensively in Dean’s musical theatre experience. He loves the G&S comedic roles, having played Reginald Bunthorne in Patience, Sir Joseph Porter in HMS Pinafore, Ko Ko in The Mikado, The Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe, Robin Oakapple in Ruddigore – and most recently The Duke of Plaza-Toro in The Gondoliers for Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Sydney.
Amongst other roles, Dean has sung Cyril in Princess Ida, Ralph Rackstraw in HMS Pinafore, Dr Daly in The Sorcerer, Grosvenor in Patience, Jack Point in The Yeomen of the Guard, & Luiz in The Gondoliers. His further light opera outings have included roles in such musical gems as The Arcadians, Showboat, The Gypsy Baron, and The Count of Luxembourg.
Dean particularly loves singing the beautiful songs of Ivor Novello, Franz Lehar, Jerome Kern, & Noel Coward, many of which he’s rendered in concert performances across Sydney.
Dean is currently President of Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Sydney.
Rod Mounjed, Musical Director
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Rod has been Musical Directing since 1985, when he first designed the music for the play Cloud Nine at the Seymour Centre. Recent Musical Design in 2002-4 has included The Importance of Being Earnest, A Midsummer Nights Dream (Shakespeare by the Sea). Since 2000 Rod has worked as a conductor with Symphony Australia’s conducting program and has worked interstate with different ensembles and orchestras from each of the major symphony orchestras around Australia, specializing in the works of Stravinsky, Mendelssohn, Grieg and Beethoven.
Rod has worked with the Savoy Arts Company since 1991 (Iolanthe, Princess Ida (twice) Pirates of Penzance, Yeomen of the Guard, HMS Pinafore and The Gondoliers). With Regals Musical Society has conducted Broadway Pirates of Penzance, Pippin, Oklahoma, Chess, Annie, Me & My Girl. His two shows with the Rockdale Musical Society have been Anything Goes and Mame. He has conducted Ruddigore for Rockdale Opera in 2011. For the past three decades he has been the resident Musical Director at Lugar Brae Players and has participated in HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, South Pacific, Oklahoma, The Music Man, My Fair Lady, Me & My Girl, The Pajama Game, Guys and Dolls, Oliver, Annie Get Your Gun, Sound of Music. He volunteered to help conduct Yeoman of the Guard and Iolanthe for the G & S Singfest (Glen Street Theatre and Zenith Theatre). As a pianist he has recorded for SMP classics, works by Mendelssohn (Songs without Words), Beethoven (Late Piano Sonatas Op.109, 110 & 111), and “An Evening with G & S” for violin and piano. |
Sarah Pearce, Associate Director & Choreographer
Sarah Pearce will be returning for a second year with us as the Associate Director & Choreography for our 2018 production of The Ghosts of Ruddigore. Sarah was our choreographer last year for The Pirates of Penzance.
Sarah has been dancing and performing since the age of three. Originally from South Australia, she studied dance at many different schools, giving her a vast vocabulary of dance styles and choreographic techniques.
She began exploring musical theatre choreography when she was 18 as the assistant choreographer of High School Musical 2 with STAYG25, whilst also performing the role of Martha in the show. After this she took on the role of choreographer for The South Coast Choral and Arts Society’s production of the Wizard Of Oz.
In 2015 she moved to Sydney to study a bachelor of music, majoring in music theatre at the Australian Institute of Music. In 2016 she was assistant choreographer for their production of Chicago, whilst also performing the roles of Mary Sunshine and Liz. She will be returning as assistant choreographer to work on their 2017 production of The Pyjama Game.
She is excited to be choreographing The Pirates of Penzance for The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Sydney!
Sarah has been dancing and performing since the age of three. Originally from South Australia, she studied dance at many different schools, giving her a vast vocabulary of dance styles and choreographic techniques.
She began exploring musical theatre choreography when she was 18 as the assistant choreographer of High School Musical 2 with STAYG25, whilst also performing the role of Martha in the show. After this she took on the role of choreographer for The South Coast Choral and Arts Society’s production of the Wizard Of Oz.
In 2015 she moved to Sydney to study a bachelor of music, majoring in music theatre at the Australian Institute of Music. In 2016 she was assistant choreographer for their production of Chicago, whilst also performing the roles of Mary Sunshine and Liz. She will be returning as assistant choreographer to work on their 2017 production of The Pyjama Game.
She is excited to be choreographing The Pirates of Penzance for The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Sydney!
Synopsis for The Ghosts of Ruddigore*
COMIC opera in two acts by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan.
ACT I
The scene opens in a bridal boutique in the Cornish village of Rederring. The boutique is HQ for a corps of professional bridesmaids who are rather desperate, since there have been no weddings for at least six months. The village beauty, Rose Maybud, will have none of her many suitors, so the bridesmaids instead try their powers of persuasion on Dame Hannah, Rose’s Aunt.
But Hannah is pledged - to eternal maidenhood. Years ago, she was betrothed to a youth who woo’d her under an assumed name, but on the day when they should have been married, she discovers that he was no other than Sir Roderic Murgatroyd, one of an accursed family, the Baronets of Ruddigore. She tells the girls how his ancestor, Sir Rupert Murgatroyd, employed his time in persecuting witches, and that one of his victims laid a curse on him and all his successors. The curse dictates the eldest living Murgatroyd son of each generation must commit a crime every day – or face a lingering death.
Rose enters, and Hannah chides her for not returning the love of “some gallant youth”. Rose explains that her difficulty is that the youths of the village are bashful, and it would not be becoming for her to make advances. Robin enters and would fain consult Rose on the predicament of a friend who is in love with a young lady, but is too shy to tell her. Rose similarly wishes to ask his advice as to her friend, and they “consult” one another - without, however, resolving anything. But Robin hides a secret. He is really Sir Ruthven (Rivven) Murgatroyd! In horror at the prospect of inheriting the title and the curse, he fled his home and took an assumed name. His younger brother Despard, believing him to be dead, succeeded to the title.
Old Adam, Robin’s faithful servant, arrives and informs Robin that his foster brother Richard has returned after ten years at sea with the navy.
Robin tells Richard (Dick) of his love for Rose, and of the shyness that prevents him from declaring it. Richard consults “the dictates of his heart,” and his heart tells him to speak up for his friend. Robin is overjoyed.
Dick goes off on his self imposed mission, but no sooner does he see Rose than his heart “dictates” once again, and says: “This is the very lass for you, Dick.” So he forgets Robin, and woos Rose, very successfully, on his own account.
Robin enters with the Bridesmaids, and is astounded at the unexpected turn events have taken. But he cleverly turns the tables on Richard – and Rose forsakes him for Robin.
Mad Margaret appears. Her wits have been crazed by the cruel treatment of Sir Despard Murgatroyd - the “Bad Baronet.” She is actually trying to find Rose Maybud, of whom she is jealous, having heard that Sir Despard intends to carry her off as one of his daily “crimes.”
Sir Despard Murgatroyd and his following of rakish gents arrives. They are welcomed by the bridesmaids, who are frankly tired of dreary village chaps and delighted by the swaggering newcomers.
To pay off his score against Robin, Richard reveals his secret to Despard, who is overjoyed to learn that he is not the real heir to the baronetcy, but that his elder brother is still living.
They determine to act without delay, for Rose and Robin, with the bridesmaids, have arrived for the wedding ceremony. However, Despard disrupts the proceedings, and unmasks Robin, claiming him as his elder brother, Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, rightful heir to the Baronetcy of Ruddigore.
ACT II
Inside the ancestral castle of Ruddigore, Robin (now Sir Ruthven) finds himself as a very ineffectual bad baronet.
He gives his reluctant blessing to Richard and Rose’s union before the ghost of Sir Roderic and all the other ancestors in the family portrait gallery awaken from their frames to give him a taste of the torturous death that awaits him if he does not obey the curse. Robin concedes and sends his valet Adam to go to the village and abduct a lady – “Any lady!”
Newlyweds Despard and Mad Margaret, now models of respectable piety, visit to urge Robin to renounce his life of crime. Adam soon returns with his abductee, who proves formidable indeed. Robin cries out for his uncle’s protection from her.
Sir Roderic is amazed to come face to face with Dame Hannah, the girl to whom he had once been engaged.
In a sudden epiphany, an idea occurs to Robin: A Baronet of Ruddigore who refuses to commit the daily crime must die and, therefore, to make such a refusal is tantamount to suicide; but suicide is a crime in itself! Consequently, Sir Roderic should never have died and the curse should not have been handed on. By this logic Robin and indeed all the Murgatroyds are free of the curse! Rose happily resumes her engagement to Robin. Sir Roderic and Dame Hannah reunite, and all ends happily.
*Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Sydney is grateful to Opera della Luna (Artistic Director Jeff Clarke) for allowing us to use the title of their work The Ghosts of RUDDIGORE as our marketing title for this production of Ruddigore. Note that this is a traditional production of Ruddigore (with a few minor updates for local humour), not the reworked version by Opera della Luna.
ACT I
The scene opens in a bridal boutique in the Cornish village of Rederring. The boutique is HQ for a corps of professional bridesmaids who are rather desperate, since there have been no weddings for at least six months. The village beauty, Rose Maybud, will have none of her many suitors, so the bridesmaids instead try their powers of persuasion on Dame Hannah, Rose’s Aunt.
But Hannah is pledged - to eternal maidenhood. Years ago, she was betrothed to a youth who woo’d her under an assumed name, but on the day when they should have been married, she discovers that he was no other than Sir Roderic Murgatroyd, one of an accursed family, the Baronets of Ruddigore. She tells the girls how his ancestor, Sir Rupert Murgatroyd, employed his time in persecuting witches, and that one of his victims laid a curse on him and all his successors. The curse dictates the eldest living Murgatroyd son of each generation must commit a crime every day – or face a lingering death.
Rose enters, and Hannah chides her for not returning the love of “some gallant youth”. Rose explains that her difficulty is that the youths of the village are bashful, and it would not be becoming for her to make advances. Robin enters and would fain consult Rose on the predicament of a friend who is in love with a young lady, but is too shy to tell her. Rose similarly wishes to ask his advice as to her friend, and they “consult” one another - without, however, resolving anything. But Robin hides a secret. He is really Sir Ruthven (Rivven) Murgatroyd! In horror at the prospect of inheriting the title and the curse, he fled his home and took an assumed name. His younger brother Despard, believing him to be dead, succeeded to the title.
Old Adam, Robin’s faithful servant, arrives and informs Robin that his foster brother Richard has returned after ten years at sea with the navy.
Robin tells Richard (Dick) of his love for Rose, and of the shyness that prevents him from declaring it. Richard consults “the dictates of his heart,” and his heart tells him to speak up for his friend. Robin is overjoyed.
Dick goes off on his self imposed mission, but no sooner does he see Rose than his heart “dictates” once again, and says: “This is the very lass for you, Dick.” So he forgets Robin, and woos Rose, very successfully, on his own account.
Robin enters with the Bridesmaids, and is astounded at the unexpected turn events have taken. But he cleverly turns the tables on Richard – and Rose forsakes him for Robin.
Mad Margaret appears. Her wits have been crazed by the cruel treatment of Sir Despard Murgatroyd - the “Bad Baronet.” She is actually trying to find Rose Maybud, of whom she is jealous, having heard that Sir Despard intends to carry her off as one of his daily “crimes.”
Sir Despard Murgatroyd and his following of rakish gents arrives. They are welcomed by the bridesmaids, who are frankly tired of dreary village chaps and delighted by the swaggering newcomers.
To pay off his score against Robin, Richard reveals his secret to Despard, who is overjoyed to learn that he is not the real heir to the baronetcy, but that his elder brother is still living.
They determine to act without delay, for Rose and Robin, with the bridesmaids, have arrived for the wedding ceremony. However, Despard disrupts the proceedings, and unmasks Robin, claiming him as his elder brother, Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, rightful heir to the Baronetcy of Ruddigore.
ACT II
Inside the ancestral castle of Ruddigore, Robin (now Sir Ruthven) finds himself as a very ineffectual bad baronet.
He gives his reluctant blessing to Richard and Rose’s union before the ghost of Sir Roderic and all the other ancestors in the family portrait gallery awaken from their frames to give him a taste of the torturous death that awaits him if he does not obey the curse. Robin concedes and sends his valet Adam to go to the village and abduct a lady – “Any lady!”
Newlyweds Despard and Mad Margaret, now models of respectable piety, visit to urge Robin to renounce his life of crime. Adam soon returns with his abductee, who proves formidable indeed. Robin cries out for his uncle’s protection from her.
Sir Roderic is amazed to come face to face with Dame Hannah, the girl to whom he had once been engaged.
In a sudden epiphany, an idea occurs to Robin: A Baronet of Ruddigore who refuses to commit the daily crime must die and, therefore, to make such a refusal is tantamount to suicide; but suicide is a crime in itself! Consequently, Sir Roderic should never have died and the curse should not have been handed on. By this logic Robin and indeed all the Murgatroyds are free of the curse! Rose happily resumes her engagement to Robin. Sir Roderic and Dame Hannah reunite, and all ends happily.
*Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Sydney is grateful to Opera della Luna (Artistic Director Jeff Clarke) for allowing us to use the title of their work The Ghosts of RUDDIGORE as our marketing title for this production of Ruddigore. Note that this is a traditional production of Ruddigore (with a few minor updates for local humour), not the reworked version by Opera della Luna.
2019 Show will be...
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The Mikado!
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