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Ruddigore
by Gilbert & Sullivan
Performed by The Hornby Occasionals
Ruddigore, or The Witches Curse, is the tenth comic opera by Arthur Sullivan and W.S. Gilbert and debuted in January 1887.
Set in the Cornish fishing village of Rederrin, where a witches curse has been placed on the Baronets of Ruddigore which forces them to commit a crime every day. Each previous Baronet has tired of the curse and died in agony. To escape his fate the genuine Baronet, Ruthven Murgatroyd, has absconded leaving his younger brother Despard to inherit the title and curse.
Meanwhile Ruthven, masquerading as Robin Oakapple, has been courting Rose, a young girl from the village. However, Robin’s extreme shyness prevents him from asking her hand in marriage when his foster-brother, Richard arrives and offers to help. Unfortunately he inadvertently asks for Roses hand in marriage and she accepts! The engagment is short-lived and Rose calls it off. Richard informs Sir Despard that his elder brother is still alive, which comes as great relief to the Baronet. Sir Despard has been commiting his crimes early in the morning in order to do good works for the rest of the day in order to make up and the opportunity to be released from the curse is too strong.
The new baronet reluctantly takes up residence in the castle, but will he be able to keep the ancestral ghosts happy who want him to commit ever worse deeds? Will he ever marry Rose? Will Despard be able to atone for his years of crime? Will the curse ever be lifted from the Murgatroyds?
Only Gilbert and Sullivan could conjure such a story and blend music, humour and delight in this classic piece of topsy-turvy light opera!
The Hornby Occasionals are a NODA award-winning operatic society which has been performing Gilbert and Sullivan operettas since 1983.
Tickets
Adult £14.00
U18 £7.00
Booking
Please note there is a small booking fee for online bookings. You may also call the Hornby Village Institute Box Office on 015242 22227.