 |
Ruddigore
or
The Witch’s Curse
Cast
Robin Oakapple (A young farmer) Philip W Errington
Richard Dauntless (His foster-brother) Robert Felstead
Sir Despard Murgatroyd (Baronet of Ruddigore) Ashley Mercer
Old Adam Goodheart (Robin’s faithful servant) David Massingham
Sir Roderic Murgatroyd (Deceased) James Hallett
Sir Rupert Murgatroyd (Deceased) Robert Vaughan
Sir Gilbert Murgatroyd (Deceased) James Chadburn
Sir Desmond Murgatroyd (Deceased) David Ayres
Sir Jasper Murgatroyd (Deceased) Tony Bannister
Rose Maybud Megan Currier
Dame Hannah (Her Aunt) Philippa Ouvry
Mad Margaret Kirsti Whitlocke
Zorah Sally Hewitt
(Professional Bridesmaids)
Ruth Miriam Robertson
Chorus of Bridesmaids, Villagers, Bucks and Blades and Ancestors
Robert Brown, Juliet Crissell, Anne Duncan, Shannon Holmes, Sarah Logan, Peter Nicholson, Jamie Patterson, Claire Pooley, Alison Roberts, Isabel Robertson, Ian Stirling, Clare Sturdy, Ben Turner, Eirian Walsh Atkins
Production Credits
Musical Director Graham Rogers
Stage Director Chris Cann
Production Manager Steve Greenwood
Stage Managers Fay Talbot
Repetiteurs Paul Guinery, David Bignell
Martin Toyer & Isabel Robertson
Lighting Steve Greenwood
Costumes Eirian Walsh Atkins
Set Design Bob Vaughan
Set Construction Steve Greenwood, Bob Vaughan, Peter Nicholson & Sarah Logan
Props Bob Vaughan
Poster Design Tony Bannister
Programme Chris Cann
Hornpipe Choreography Alaric T Barrie III
Orchestra
Violin Liz Errington
Cello Hayley Burton
Flute Carla Finesilver
Clarinet Rebecca Owen
Oboe Meriel Avery
Bassoon Elizabeth Boyden
French Horn Robin Avery
Piano Paul Guinery
Percussion Maggie Holme
With special thanks to:
Holy Trinity Church, St. Gabriel’s Church and the Royal Opera House for their support and generous provision of rehearsal space
John Lill, Roy Hobson, Tony Blackmore, Brook Vickers and all at Louth Playgoers for their warm welcome and invaluable assistance with all aspects of this production
Orchestral arrangement supplied by Martin Paterson of Pattersong Music. For more information about this and other similar G&S arrangements see www.pattersong.co.uk
Synopsis of musical numbers
Overture
Act I
“Fair is Rose as Bright May Day” (Zorah & Bridesmaids)
“Sir Rupert Murgatroyd” (Dame Hannah & Bridesmaids)
“If somebody there chanced to be” (Rose Maybud)
“I know a youth” (Rose & Robin Oakapple)
“From the briny sea” (Bridesmaids)
“I shipped, d’ye see”… Hornpipe (Richard Dauntless & Bridesmaids)
“My boy, you may take it from me” (Robin & Richard)
“The battle’s roar is over” (Richard & Rose)
“If well his suit has sped” (Bridesmaids)
“In sailing o’er life’s ocean wide” (Robin, Richard & Rose)
“Cheerily carols the lark” (Mad Margaret)
“Welcome Gentry” (Bridesmaids & Bucks and Blades)
“Oh why am I moody and sad?” (Sir Despard & Chorus)
“You understand?” (Sir Despard & Richard)
Act I Finale (Company)
Act II
“I once was as meek” (Robin & Old Adam)
“Happily coupled are we, you see” (Richard, Rose & Bridesmaids)
“In bygone days, I had thy love” (Rose with Robin, Richard & Bridesmaids)
“Painted Emblems of a race” (Ancestors, Robin & Sir Roderic)
“When the night wind howls” (Sir Roderic & Ancestors)
“He yields! He yields!” (Ancestors & Robin)
“Away remorse”…“For thirty-five years” (Robin)
“I once was a very abandoned person” (Despard & Margaret)
“My eyes are fully opened” (Robin, Despard & Margaret
“There grew a little flower” (Dame Hannah & Sir Roderic)
Act II Finale (Company)
Synopsis
Act I
In the Cornish village of Rederring, England’s only troupe of professional bridesmaids gather in the hope of a wedding. However, they are doomed to disappointment, as the most eligible maiden, Rose Maybud, appears so perfect that the local youths are too in awe of her to propose, and until she is married there is no hope for anyone else. The foundling Rose lives with her aunt, Dame Hannah. In desperation the Bridesmaids urge her to marry. Hannah refuses, being sworn to eternal maidenhood. She was once betrothed, but broke off the engagement on discovering that her fiancé was Sir Roderic Murgatroyd, one of the infamous baronets of Ruddigore. Hannah recounts the legend of the evil baronets who are doomed under a witch’s curse to perform a crime every day or perish in agony.
Hannah urges Rose to marry, suggesting Robin Oakapple, a prosperous young farmer. Rose is rather taken with him, but is exasperated by his shyness. When they meet, Robin cannot bring himself to confess his love, and contents himself with sounding out Rose “on behalf of a friend”. Old Adam, Robin’s faithful ancient retainer, almost gives away his secret identity: Robin is really Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, the rightful holder of the Baronetcy of Ruddigore. He fled the castle at the prospect of inheriting the title and its attendant curse, leaving them to his younger brother, Despard. Adam has come to announce the imminent arrival of Robin’s foster-brother, Richard Dauntless, who has been at sea with the Royal Navy. Richard arrives and is greeted very enthusiastically by the local girls. In return, he gives them an account of his not-altogether glorious naval career.
| |
When they are alone, Robin confesses to Richard that he loves Rose, but is too shy to approach her formally. Richard suggests that he woo her on Robin’s behalf, but on meeting Rose, he falls in love with her himself. Robin craftily manages to turn the tables by a series of very back-handed compliments and successfully wins Rose back, much to Richard’s chagrin.
Mad Margaret enters, having been driven to distraction by her unrequited love for Sir Despard. She encounters Rose and warns her that Despard’s next planned outrage is to carry Rose off. They escape, just as Sir Despard’s cronies arrive from London, captivating the village girls. Sir Despard arrives and scares off the villagers before confessing that in actual fact he longs for a virtuous life, and after performing his daily crime first thing in the morning, he devotes the rest of the day to good works. Richard Dauntless interrupts him and reveals Robin’s true identity. Despard is delighted at the prospect of relinquishing the title and they plan to forestall the forthcoming nuptials.
As the villagers assemble for the wedding festivities, Sir Despard enters and denounces Robin as the rightful Baronet of Ruddigore. Robin tries to brazen it out, but to no avail, even when Richard confesses that it was he who betrayed Robin, albeit from (according to Richard) the noblest motives. Rose breaks off the engagement to Robin and offers herself in marriage to Despard. Now reformed, he declines her hand, preferring to do his duty by marrying Margaret. As a last resort, Rose opts to marry Richard and all join in the celebrations, except Robin, who faces the journey to Ruddigore Castle, accompanied by the ever loyal Adam.
Act II
A week later, Robin is now installed in Ruddigore Castle as Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd. Adam, now his black-hearted steward, advises him on his next crime before announcing the arrival of Rose and Richard to request his permission, as squire, to marry. Robin greets them angrily and almost comes to blows with Richard before Rose intervenes and pleads with Robin to consent to the marriage as a token of his own former love. Robin cannot resist and the wedding party dance off happily.
 |
Alone in the castle picture gallery, Robin is visited by the ghosts of his ancestors, who step down from the paintings that line the walls. They administer the curse and have come to check on Robin’s misdeeds. His uncle Roderic questions Robin and is unconvinced by his nephew’s feeble crimes. The ghosts demand that he must carry off a lady that day and threaten him with an agonizing death if he hesitates. At last Robin consents and the ghosts return to their frames, satisfied. Adam is duly dispatched to carry off the lady.
Despard and Margaret now arrive, presenting a marked contrast to their former selves. They are now the epitome of repressed respectability. However, Margaret periodically relapses into madness and can only be calmed by the utterance of the magic word, “Basingstoke”. They have come to urge Robin to abandon his life of villainy, even if this means his death. Robin is eventually convinced and vows to defy his ancestors, but at this moment, Adam returns with the maiden – none other than Dame Hannah, who is more than able to take care of herself. She terrifies Robin so much that he calls on his late Uncle Roderic for protection. He descends from his frame and immediately recognises Hannah as his former love. The old flames discuss their situation and it transpires that they are still in love. However, they are interrupted by the return of Robin with Rose, Richard and a clever solution to everyone’s dilemmas!
A History of Ruddigore
After the success of The Mikado in 1885 Gilbert was particularly eager to capitalize on the triumph with another new work. He suggested to Sullivan a burlesque of the blood ‘n’ thunder melodramas that dominated the Victorian stage. Sullivan agreed in principle, but stressed that a new opera for the Savoy Theatre would have to take second place to his major new cantata for the Leeds Festival, The Golden Legend.
By the time that Sullivan started to consider the new opera, Gilbert had drafted a plot satirizing all the standard conventions of Victorian melodrama and the popular gothic horror stories of the period. The animation of the family portraits in Act II is derived directly from Gilbert’s early musical play Ages Ago, produced in 1869. (It was during rehearsals for this piece that Gilbert and Sullivan had first been introduced.) It is characteristic of Gilbert that he turns the conventions of melodrama on their head by making the heroic Jack Tar a cowardly lecher, the wicked baronet a closet philanthropist and the ‘innocent maiden’ a mercenary gold-digger who changes her affections four times in the first act.
The premiere, at the Savoy Theatre on January 22nd 1887 received a mixed reception from the stellar audience. Applause was disrupted by cries of “Bring back The Mikado”. This was compounded by lukewarm notices from the critics. The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News denounced the opera as “resurrection pie”. Particular hostility was reserved for the reanimation of the Ghosts in the Act II finale – the logical outcome of Gilbert’s plot, but which the pious Victorians considered in extreme bad taste. The spelling of the title also had connotations in many people's minds with vulgar oaths, whereas to Gilbert, Ruddygore simply meant ‘red blood’.
To soothe their critics Gilbert and Sullivan made several changes. A ghostly march and recitative for Sir Roderic had already been cut, but now verses were trimmed from several numbers and Robin’s Act II patter song (“For thirty-five years”) was totally rewritten in a more cynical vein. Further, the offending title was amended to Ruddigore to calm this objection. In this form, the opera enjoyed a respectable run at the Savoy. It was not performed again in London until the 1920s. For this revival, Geoffrey Toye, the then Musical Director made sweeping changes including cutting “Away remorse” and the original Act II finale, replacing it with the briefest reprise of “O happy the lily” from Act I. He also wrote a completely new overture. Toye made several other cuts, the most surprising of which is the duet for Richard and Rose: “The battle’s roar is over”. However, it was in this form that Ruddigore re-entered the repertory, where it established itself as a firm favourite and was performed right up to the final season of the old D’Oyly Carte Company in 1982. As time went on, many of Toye’s cuts were reversed and first “The battle’s roar” and then the original Act II finale were restored, giving audiences a chance to experience the opera that its creators originally conceived
Cast Biographies
David Ayres (Sir Desmond Murgatroyd/Chorus)
David first ventured onto stage in the pivotal role of ‘Shepherd who doesn’t say anything, but brings a lamb’ in his school nativity play. Since then, he has progressed to playing character roles, frequently clergymen, in various musicals and operas. David made his G&S debut in the role of Dr Daly (The Sorcerer) and at Easter 2006, he sang St. Andrew in David Palmer’s The Son of Man. David has a strong theatrical background and usually plays characters that die, get murdered or otherwise end tragically. He has also taken over roles at short notice, including Torvald Helmer in Ibsen’s A Dolls House and Ben in Arthur Miller’s Death Of A Salesman, both with less than a week’s rehearsal. The eight weeks spent rehearsing Ruddigore have proved something of an unexpected luxury.
Tony Bannister (Sir Jasper Murgatroyd/Chorus)
Tony has appeared with newLOG in Louth since the company began. He sang Pish-Tush in The Mikado and appeared in the choruses of The Pirates of Penzance and Iolanthe. He has also provided technical assistance as Deputy Stage Manager for newLOG’s three Louth revues: A Night at the Savoy, A Viennese Soirée and Here’s a How-de-do! With the University of London Opera Group he played Scynthius in Princess Ida, Bert the Cockney Landlord in Cinderella, the Emcee/Baloo in Movie Star, and appeared in the chorus of Ruddigore. He also co-directed Sandy Wilson’s Divorce Me, Darling! Elsewhere, Tony has appeared as the Capuchin in Cyrano de Bergerac and as Innocent in the British premiere of Ivona, Princess of Burgundy, both at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth; Mr Fogg in Sweeney Todd with Crimson House Productions at the Electric Theatre, Guildford; and as Rusty Charlie in Guys and Dolls at the George Wood Theatre, London. TV includes presenting Human Rights, Human Wrongs (Longbow Productions for Channel 4). Last Christmas, Tony sang in the chorus and offstage semi-chorus in newLOG’s concert performance of Bethlehem.
Robert Brown (Chorus)
Robert’s acting career started only two years ago when he played the roles of Leonard Meryll and ‘Lovelorn Peasant’ in The Yeomen Of The Guard. Having had to disguise himself as a ‘fair maiden’ when he played the role of Cyril in Princess Ida, last year, he is relieved that Ruddigore does not necessitate him having to wear a dress. Most recently Robert sang the role of St. James in the Easter Oratorio The Son of Man. Prior to taking to the stage Robert has sung with several choirs in many locations both in the UK and the United States. Previously for newLOG, Robert sang in the concert performance of Rutland Boughton’s Bethlehem in December 2005.
Chris Cann (Stage Director)
Chris hails from Devon and has lived in London since 1992. He has performed in all the extant Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Principal roles include The Learned Judge (Trial by Jury), Alexis Pointdextre (The Sorcerer), Major-General Stanley (The Pirates of Penzance), Lady Jane [!] (Patience), The Lord Chancellor, Lord Mountararat, Strephon and Private Willis (Iolanthe), Cyril (Princess Ida), Pooh-Bah (The Mikado), Dick Dauntless and Sir Despard Murgatroyd (Ruddigore), The Duke of Plaza-Toro and Don Alhambra del Bolero (The Gondoliers), King Paramount (Utopia Limited) and Ludwig (The Grand Duke). Chris has directed productions for the University of London Opera Group, newLOG and the Centenary Opera Company. His productions include The Sorcerer (twice), HMS Pinafore, Iolanthe (twice), Princess Ida, The Mikado and Ruddigore, which he is delighted to be revisiting in Louth this summer. He has also directed the newLOG spring concerts of G&S and Viennese operetta in 2004 and 2005 and appeared as Mr Box in Cox and Box/A Night at the Savoy in March this year. He produced the acclaimed newLOG performance of Rutland Boughton’s Bethlehem in December 2005, in which he also sang the roles of Jem the Shepherd and Zarathustra the Wise Man.
James Chadburn (Sir Gilbert Murgatroyd/Chorus)
Jim is delighted to be taking part in his second newLOG production in Louth. His most recent theatre performances were as Old Adam in another production of Ruddigore and as the Lord Chamberlain in Princess Ivona with the King’s College London Alumni Theatre Society, of which he is a founder member. A freelance translator by day, he is moving to Edinburgh later in the year to begin an MSc in Translating and Conference Interpreting at Heriot-Watt University. Sadly that means he will be in Louth only to watch next year’s production, but he hopes to return to the Louth stage some time in the future!
Juliet Crissell (Chorus)
Juliet is rather surprised to be performing Ruddigore for the third time. She hopes that frenzied cutting of confetti will have no lasting damage on her fingers, but working in a hospital’s Hand Therapy department should have prepared her for this task! Previous newLOG appearances include the choruses of The Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance in Louth and last year’s concert performance of Bethlehem in London.
Megan Currier (Rose Maybud)
Megan studied performance music at Otago University in New Zealand, attaining her Masters degree in 2003. During her stint at University she performed in a number of Operas and Oratorios including Die Fledermaus (Strauss), Carmina Burana (Orff),
Saint Matthew Passion (Bach), The Messiah (Handel), the world premiere of The Stars in Orion by Professor John Drummond and a number of concert performances and master classes with distinguished singers including Anthony Rolfe Johnson, SarahWalker and Jonathon Lemalu. Megan made her newLOG debut as Yum-Yum (The Mikado) in 2004, followed by Mabel in last year’s production of The Pirates of Penzance. In these roles, she has finally found her niche, playing the prettiest, most naively self-centred girls with whom everyone falls in love. After all, as with all Sopranos, her favourite warm up is me-me-me-me-me-me-me-me-me!
Anne Duncan (Chorus)
After years in the musical wilderness Anne is now a confirmed G&S fan. Ruddigore is her debut with newLOG and she is very excited to be performing in Louth. However, this is not her first encounter with Ruddigore, as she has already sung in the King’s College G&S Society production earlier this year. Previously, she has played a mad governess in HMS Pinafore, also at King’s. Anne has just completed her degree in English Literature and is about to train as a teacher. Time-permitting, she would like to ‘Carry on Chorusing’ with her G&S chums!
Philip W Errington (Robin Oakapple)
Phil has appeared with newLOG in Louth as the Pirate King (The Pirates of Penzance) and as Sergeant Bouncer (Cox and Box/A Night at the Savoy). He’s delighted to be back! Previous roles include the Usher and Council (Trial by Jury), Dr Daly (The Sorcerer), Dick Deadeye (HMS Pinafore), Archibald Grosvenor and Colonel Calverly (Patience), Strephon (Iolanthe), King Gama (Princess Ida), Ko-Ko (The Mikado), Robin Oakapple (Ruddigore), Jack Point (The Yeomen of the Guard), The Duke of Plaza-Toro (The Gondoliers) and Ludwig (The Grand Duke). He played the role of Robin on stage in 1994 under the same director and is relishing the opportunity to do it again. This time, however, he is delighted by the presence of an exceptionally talented and utterly fabulous violinist in the band. Phil has performed with The University of London Opera Group, The Minotaur Music Theatre, Imperial Opera, Grosvenor Light Opera Company, the Philharmonia Chorus, Imperial College Operatic Society and (for one night only) the D’Oyly Carte. Television appearances include “Sotheby’s Expert” on Children’s BBC last year. His finest moment on stage, however, was a production of Ruddigore in which he gutted a fish with assistance from a furrier during some major plot exposition. By day he is a deputy director within the department of printed books and manuscripts at Sotheby’s in London.
Robert Felstead (Richard Dauntless)
Robert is delighted to be performing in this his second show for newLOG as the raucous randy sailor, Dick Dauntless. Robert played the part of Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance last year and enjoyed Louth so much that he couldn’t wait to get back. Previous G&S roles include Ralph Rackstraw in HMS Pinafore : just one of the many
times Robert has played a sailor on stage. Other roles include Seymour Krelborn (Little Shop of Horrors), Freddie Trumper(CHESS), Bill Calhoun in (Kiss me Kate) and Rick (A Slice of Saturday Night). Robert has also appeared in Personals, Anything Goes and Moll Flanders. As well as being on stage Robert also plays the Keyboard, Clarinet and Saxophone and has also been the musical director for two musical theatre revues. Robert hopes you enjoy the performance tonight and looks forward to doing it all again next year.
Steve Greenwood (Production Manager/Lighting Designer)
As well as being one of the founding directors of newLOG, Steve has also worked with the University of London Opera Group and Imperial Opera, of which he is also Treasurer. He enjoys having his finger in as many theatrical pies as possible, having acted as producer, designer or stage manager (sometimes all three) with the three companies on a variety of shows including The Pirates of Penzance; Princess Ida; The Mikado; Ruddigore; Cheryomushki; Cinderella; Divorce Me, Darling!; Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Nine; Something’s Afoot; Here’s a How-de-do!; The Shakespeare Revue; A Viennese Soirée and Bethlehem. Steve has never been tempted to actually appear in a show, though…he just doesn’t have the time!
James Hallett (Sir Roderic Murgatroyd)
Whilst spending most of his day masquerading as a Biochemistry student at King’s College, London (and trying desperately not to fail on as little work as possible), James lives a secret double-life as an amateur performer (trying not to ruin shows after as little rehearsal as possible). Recent productions include HMS Pinafore and Ruddigore (King’s College G&S Society), A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum and Jesus Christ Superstar (King’s Musical Theatre), and Coram Boy at the Royal National Theatre. He will also direct the King’s College G&S Society production of The Gondoliers in Spring 2007.
Sally Hewitt (Zorah)
Sally is appearing for the fourth time in Louth and is very happy to be back, playing a somewhat excitable bridesmaid. She won't be back next year, though – she’ll be busy putting her hard-won confetti-related knowledge to use in the real world.
Shannon Holmes (Chorus)
When Shannon first visited Louth in 2000, long before newLOG was even a glint in its founders’ eyes, she could not have imagined that only a few years down the line she would be paying annual visits to this delightful Georgian town to help administer
hefty doses of Gilbert and Sullivan to its deserving population. To paraphrase Louth’s most famous resident: “Ours not to question chance, Ours but to sing and dance!”
Sarah Logan (Chorus)
This is Sarah’s third production since she joined the ranks of newLOG last year, as a chorus girl in The Pirates of Penzance. She enjoyed working with the Company so much that she came back for the concert performance of Bethlehem in December 2005. Although new to G&S, Sarah has a life long love of choral work and has been a member of the University of London, Banstead and Hereford Choral Societies. Stage work includes the part of Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Ernest and writing, directing and performing in three medical reviews with the Hereford Hospital players.
David Massingham (Old Adam Goodheart)
David’s introduction to the world of performing arts came at the tender age of five when he joined Bristol Stage School with whom he had the opportunity to perform in numerous amateur and professional productions. More recently, at Exeter University, David performed the roles of Gerald (Me and My Girl),Sideway/Collins (Our Country’s Good) and in the chorus of Singin’ in the Rain. David now lives and works in London and is delighted to again be performing with newLOG after thoroughly enjoying both The Pirates of Penzance and Bethlehem last year. Also a keen composer, David has recently finished co-writing his second stage work: Plague! The Musical. He is extremely grateful to those members of newLOG who contributed both their time and vocal talent to the recent workshop recordings of this <cough> “masterpiece”.
Ashley Mercer (Sir Despard Murgatroyd)
Ashley is delighted to be back in Louth this year, having previously appeared here as Ko-Ko (The Mikado) with newLOG and as the Lord Chancellor (Iolanthe) with the University of London Opera Group. Other recent roles have included Calchas/The Unbeliever in newLOG’s successful concert performance of Boughton’s Bethlehem, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Anything Goes) and Ben Stone (Follies - in concert). This year he has also directed his own production of Ruddigore and conducted A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at King’s College London, where he is in his final year of a postgraduate Master’s in Physics.
Peter Nicholson (Chorus)
Last year witnessed Peter’s first venture into operetta, as third tallest Pirate/Policeman in newLOG’s production of The Pirates of Penzance. Seemingly undeterred by
finding himself all at sea in an unfamiliar environment, he’s now back for more, complete with promotion to second tallest Gentleman/Ghost, in Ruddigore. Peter’s usual performing arena is in fact a set of ecclesiastical choir stalls, singing as he does in a chamber group which regularly usurps cathedral choirs around the country, inflicting all manner of Morning and Evening Services on unsuspecting locals. Lured however by the promise of such macho activities as brandishing a brolly and twirling a tripod, he felt at once compelled to trade-in responses by Rutter and Rose for (this time) the rantings of Robin and Roderic. He promises to be an illuminating stage presence as the wedding photographer during the Act I Finale. When not enjoying a swift pint in the Murgatroyd Arms during newLOG rehearsals, Peter can often be found buried inside a foreign-language book of some description, or “playing a bad part on the falsest” of guitars.
Philippa Ouvry (Dame Hannah Trusty)
Philippa first performed G&S at Oxford University, and has played many principal roles including Little Buttercup (HMS Pinafore), Ruth (The Pirates of Penzance), Lady Jane (Patience), Mad Margaret (Ruddigore), Dame Carruthers (The Yeomen of the Guard) and The Duchess of Plaza-Toro (The Gondoliers); while at Oxford, she also directed productions of Trial by Jury, HMS Pinafore and The Grand Duke. She has performed at Buxton Opera House as part of the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in The Sorcerer, The Pirates of Penzance and Ruddigore. Observant readers who have seen Mike Leigh’s film Topsy Turvy may have spotted Philippa’s split-second appearance in the Savoy audience laughing at the Mikado’s song. Philippa also sings in the London chamber choirs Vox Cordis and Pegasus, and with the London Philharmonic Choir. She currently studies with Gareth Roberts. This is Philippa’s newLOG debut.
Jamie Patterson (Chorus)
For the third year running, Jamie will be appearing on the Louth stage, this time in ghostly form! Jamie can be heard tonight singing in his bass voice rather than his ‘natural’ countertenor voice, which is an unusual treat for the unsuspecting public. As usual, Jamie dedicates his performance tonight to his great friend, Sir Osis of Liver.
Claire Pooley (Chorus)
Claire is pleased to be performing in her first newLOG production, although it is her second Ruddigore and her second trip to the lovely town of Louth on tour (previously appearing in Iolanthe with ULOG). She is enjoying playing Mary, the church organist, who just wishes that someone would hurry up and get married so she can get a little extra income, although she is also pleased to play for christenings, funerals or any other occasion...
Alison Roberts (Chorus)
Alison’s flirtation with Gilbert and Sullivan began as a child when her grandmother used to play her LPs on an old record player. This interest slowly waned over the years until she began university two years ago. Here the paternal genes kicked in once again and she found herself joining the King’s College London G&S Society. After playing a sister in HMS Pinafore in 2005 and a bridesmaid in another production of Ruddigore not six months ago, she reprises her role in the female chorus with newLOG, this time as a wedding-dress maker. She has enjoyed it immensely and this may become a future career prospect if medicine doesn’t work out.
Isabel Robertson (Chorus)
Having been confined to the orchestra pit for the recent King’s College G&S Society production of Ruddigore, toiling away at the piano, Isabel yearned for her own share of the limelight on stage. She has enjoyed this experience immensely. Her previous stage experience dates back to 1994 when she appeared as a monkey in a school musical extravaganza!
Miriam Robertson (Ruth)
Miriam, an enthusiatic stage actress reprises the role of Ruth, a village bridesmaid, and plays it to perfection. In preparation for her role, Miriam has attended countless weddings, taken notes from participating bridesmaids, and even read When I Was a Bridesmaid by Antonia Swinson and Always the Bridesmaid by Sarah Webb. She also found research into her character name deep and meaningful - From the Hebrew word “re’ut” meaning “friend”. Through the opera’s hilarious ups and alarming downs, Ruth is our constant friend. Miriam’s past Gilbert and Sullivan roles have been playful Edith in The Pirates of Penzance, and assertive Cousin Hebe in HMS Pinafore.
Graham Rogers (Musical Director)
Graham read music at the University of York and now works as a scheduler for BBC Radio 3. He is a huge fan of Gilbert and Sullivan, and has performed in all the extant Savoy Operas. Roles Graham has played here at the Riverhead in Louth include Strephon (Iolanthe), Mr Cox (Cox and Box) and the eponymous Mikado of Japan. He has been involved in all of newLOG’s previous productions in Louth in various capacities: he performed on stage in the spring concerts Here’s a How-de-do (2004), A Viennese Soirée (2005) and A Night at the Savoy earlier this year, which he also devised, and last summer he conducted the highly successful performances of The Pirates of Penzance. Graham has conducted a number of different performing groups, including G&S operas at the universities of Cambridge, York and London. As a singer Graham has performed with a wide variety of ensembles including London chamber choir Pegasus, York-based Ebor Singers, and several years with the BBC Symphony
chorus. Other recent stage roles include Dick Deadeye (HMS Pinafore), Ko-Ko (The Mikado), Robin Oakapple (Ruddigore) and Dave the Shepherd and Merlin the Wise Man in Rutland Boughton’s nativity opera Bethlehem with newLOG in December last year.
Ian Stirling (Chorus)
After a very memorable trip to Louth to perform in last year’s production of The Pirates of Penzance, Ian is back for more, with the vague hope that this time round his costume will survive beyond Act I! Before joining newLOG, his previous roles included John the Commoun Weill in An Satyre of the Thrie Estaites, Potipher in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and a highly controversial interpretation ofHelena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Variation is the key.
Clare Sturdy (Chorus)
Clare is in her fifth year of a medical degree and is slightly daunted by the fact she has an exam on the Monday following the show. However, memories of swimming in the North Sea last year have brought her back to Louth for her second year with newLOG. This year she has already performed Ruddigore with King’s College G&S Society, of which she was President. Her previous productions include the choruses of HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and Oliver!
Ben Turner (Chorus)
Ben has done four years’ solemn duty in the male chorus with King’s College London G&S Society and now, realising that he is no longer a student, has joined the newLOG chorus to perform in Ruddigore for the second time in six months.
Robert Vaughan (Sir Rupert Murgatroyd/Chorus)
Bob Vaughan is once more absolutely euphoric to return to Lincolnshire for his fifth show in Louth. After contributing a certain gravitas to the bass choruses of Iolanthe, The Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance, he returned earlier this year to direct newLOG’s production of Cox and Box and appeared in the concert, albeit briefly, as the back‑end of Wilfred Shadbolt. Ruddigore marks Bob’s Louth debut in a speaking role, and as the sadistic Sir Rupert Murgatroyd he is responsible for the whole witch’s curse! As the masochistic Set Designer, responsible for the erection of Reddering and the Murgatroyd’s haunted picture gallery, Bob is one of the very few people who knows exactly how much string is involved in supporting tonight’s performance. If it was tied end‑to‑end it would easily stretch from the stage to The Woolpack, but there again so would the chorus. When he is off the stage, Bob works for an old established and world‑renowned jam manufacturer, developing new flavours of marmalade.
Eirian Walsh Atkins (Chorus/Wardrobe Mistress)
Eirian Walsh Atkins has appeared in several shows in Louth since her husband introduced her to the Riverhead Theatre. She is excited to be returning and hopes you are as entertained by this production as she has been. She would like to thank William Makepeace Thackeray for his inspirational writing, from which she has drawn her characterisation.
Kirsti Whitlocke (Mad Margaret)
Kirsti Whitlocke completed her tertiary qualifications in 1999 with distinction for her Graduate Diploma of Opera at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has performed
principal roles in conjunction with Opera Australia, Opera Queensland and The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. Kirsti has most recently performed the roles of Hebe, (HMS Pinafore), Fleta (Iolanthe) and Pitti-Sing (The Mikado) for the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company at the Savoy Theatre in London. Other roles include Olga (The Merry Widow) with the Queensland Philharmonic, Orlovsky (Die Fledermaus)and Suzuki (Madama Butterfly) for the 4MBS Festival of Fine Music. In conjunction with Opera Australia Kirsti sang the role of Giacinta in the Australian première of Mozart’s La finta semplice in 1996 and the role of Penelope in Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria. For Opera Queensland Kirsti was a touring principal in the Australian opera The Serpent. As a concert artist Kirsti has appeared with The Sydney Symphony Orchestra at The Sydney Opera House Concert Hall and in recital for the Bach, Mozart and Schubert Societies of Australia. Kirsti made her newLOG debut in the successful concert A Night at the Savoy, at the Riverhead Theatre in March, but is no stranger to Louth, having sung the role of Phyllis with the University of London Opera Group in 2003.