Ruddigore
Ruddigore; or, The Witch's Curse, in the original version Ruddygore, is an English operetta ("Comic Opera") in two acts with music by Arthur Sullivan based on a libretto by WS Gilbert . The first performance of the play took place on January 22, 1887 in London's Savoy Theater by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company .
action
first act
The bridesmaids of Rederring, a Cornish village , are concerned that they have not been married for six months. All the young men hope to marry Rose Maybud, the most beautiful girl in the village, but are too shy to confess their love. The desperate bridesmaids ask Rose's aunt, Dame Hannah, if she would like to get married, but she refuses. Many years ago, Hannah fell in love with a young man who turned out to be Sir Roderic Murgatroyd, one of the evil baronets of Ruddigore. She goes on to say that all of Ruddigore's baronets are under a curse that condemns them to commit a crime every day. If they stop doing this, they will die in terrible agony.
Rose walks in and notices that all of the young men she meets are too naughty and violate her "book of etiquette" - except for Robin Oakapple, a wealthy young farmer. But he is also very shy, and her etiquette forbids Rose to speak to him. Robin meets Rose and shyly asks her for advice for "a friend". Rose makes hints that she also has a boyfriend like that, but the two separate again without an open declaration of love.
Robin's loyal servant Old Adam comes over. Robin urges him never to reveal that he is really Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd and that he fled his old country estate twenty years ago in order not to inherit the title of Baronet von Ruddigore and the curse associated with it. Robin's foster brother, sailor Richard Dauntless, comes ashore. Robin asks him to speak to Rose for him and let her know that he loves her. When Richard sees Rose, he falls in love with her and immediately asks for her hand. Rose agrees after consulting her etiquette. When Robin learns of the situation, he points out Richard's many weaknesses to Rose. Rose realizes her mistake and agrees to marry Robin.
Rose meets Margaret, maddened by her unhappy love for Sir Despard, the current "evil baronet" of Ruddigore. Margaret meets Rose with furious jealousy, but she truthfully assures that she is already engaged to someone else. Sir Despard arrives in the village and scares away the village girls and the men who have come from town to woo them. Richard approaches Sir Despard and reveals to him that Robin is his older brother Ruthven, who was believed to have died. Despard is delighted with the prospect of finally being “free” and not having to commit any more crimes.
The villagers gather for Rose and Robin's wedding. Sir Despard interrupts the celebration and explains that Robin, as his older brother, has the rightful title of Baronet of Ruddigore. Shaken by this revelation, Rose Despard offers to marry. Sir Despard refuses, as he now has to marry his old fiancée Margaret as an honorable person, who is delighted. Rose decides to marry Richard because he is "the only one left". Despised by everyone, Robin leaves to lead the hated life as a baronet.
Second act
At Ruddigore Castle, Robin (now Sir Ruthven) and Old Adam brood over the crimes he should now commit as an evil baronet. Richard and Rose enter to ask Robin for permission to marry, which he reluctantly grants. The ghosts of Robin's ancestors step out of their portraits to question Robin about his previous crime record. Robin's description of his previous "crimes" - including the forgery of his own will and a false income tax return - fails to convince the ghosts. Sir Roderic Murgatroyd, Robin's late uncle, orders a lady to be abducted that same day. Robin is outraged, but has to consent after the ghosts have given him a taste of the agony to be expected. He orders Adam to kidnap some lady from the village.
Despard and the mad Margaret now lead a quiet, monotonous life in public service. Both try to convince Robin to renounce his crime. Robin agrees and vows to defy his ancestors. In the meantime Adam has carried out his order and dragged Dame Hannah of all people into the castle. Hannah vigorously defends himself against Robin, so that Robin calls his deceased uncle for help. Sir Roderic appears and sees his old love. Annoyed that Robin has kidnapped his former fiancée, he sends him away and is left with Hannah.
Robin rushes over, accompanied by Rose, Richard, and the bridesmaids. He explains that a Baronet von Ruddigore dies only by renouncing his daily crimes. But this would be tantamount to suicide, which is itself a crime. So his ancestors never had to die at all. Roderic follows this logic and understands that he is "practically alive". Now that Robin is freed from the curse, Rose breaks away from Richard and renews her engagement with Robin, while Richard is content with the first bridesmaid.
Musical numbers
The operetta received several revisions by Gilbert and Sullivan and later by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, so there are several versions of some pieces.
- overture
- Original overture arranged by Hamilton Clarke
- Revised overture arranged by Geoffrey Toye (1920)
- first act
- 1. "Fair is Rose" (choir of bridesmaids)
- 2. "Sir Rupert Murgatroyd" (Hannah and choir)
- 3. "If somebody there chanced to be" (Rose)
- 4. "I know a youth" (Rose and Robin)
- 5. "From the briny sea" (choir of the bridesmaids)
- 6. "I shipp'd, d'ye see, in a revenue sloop" (Richard and Chor)
- 6a. Hornpipe
- 7. "My boy, you may take it from me" (Robin and Richard)
- 8. "The battle's roar is over" (Rose and Richard)
- 9. "If well his suit has sped" (choir of the bridesmaids)
- 10. "In sailing o'er life's ocean wide" (Rose, Richard and Robin)
- 11. "Cheerily carols the lark" (Margaret)
- 12. "Welcome, gentry" (double choir)
- 13. "Oh, why am I moody and sad?" (Sir Despard and Chor)
- 14. “You understand? I think I do "(Richard and Sir Despard)
- 15. Finale first act
- "Hail the bride of seventeen summers" (Ensemble)
- Madrigal : "When the buds are blossoming" (ensemble)
- "When I'm a bad Bart, I will tell taradiddles!" (Robin and choir)
- "Oh, happy the lily" (ensemble)
- Second act
- 16. "I once was as meek" (Sir Ruthven and Adam)
- 17. "Happily coupled are we" (Rose and Richard)
- 18. "In bygone days" (rose with bridesmaids choir)
- 19. "Painted emblems of a race" (Sir Ruthven, Sir Roderic and Choir of Ancestors)
- 20. "When the night wind howls" (Sir Roderic and choir)
- 21. "He yields, he yields" (chorus)
- 21a.
- (Original) “Away, remorse! … For thirty-five years I've been sober and wary "(Robin)
- (Alternative version) “Away, remorse! ... Henceforth all the crimes "(Robin)
- 22. "I once was a very abandoned person" (Margaret and Despard)
- 23. "My eyes are fully open" ( Patter song ; Margaret, Sir Ruthven and Despard)
- 24. "Melodrame"
- 25. "There grew a little flower" (Hannah with Sir Roderic)
- 26. Finale second act
- "When a man has been a naughty baronet" (Ensemble)
- Alternative version: "For happy the lily" (recapitulation, ensemble)