Something non-political this week –
Rare Chance to See Spooky Operetta in Playful Production Hot on the heels of its Covid-delayed production of The Pirates of Penzance last November, Eastbourne Gilbert & Sullivan Society returns to its usual May performance dates at Devonshire Park Theatre with one of the less frequently produced Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, Ruddygore.
Ruddygore or The Witch’s Curse is Victorian musical comedy which was first performed by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company at the Savoy Theatre in 1887, and was last produced by Eastbourne G&S in 2010. Like two of its predecessors in the G&S canon – Iolanthe and the Sorcerer – Ruddygore is a fantastical story, but the only one to involve ghosts. An ancient curse plagues the Murgatroyd family of Ruddygore castle, whose baronets are forced to commit a crime every day or perish in agony. But it transpires that the rightful baronet, Sir Ruthven, has secretly been hiding out by the seaside, leaving his younger brother, Despard, to shoulder the curse. When the truth is revealed, Ruthven loses his fiance – the etiquette-obsessed Rose Maybud – and is forced to become the ‘bad baronet’. Having played the Pirate King in November’s production of The Pirates of Penzance, opera singer Richard Woodall (D’oyly Carte, ENO, Opera North) returns to the Society in the role of director, joined by fellow opera professional Russell Ablewhite (ENO, Royal Opera House) as Musical Director. Both are Eastbourne residents who feel passionately about sharing their love of G&S with the town and supporting the Society’s mission of “Keeping Gilbert & Sullivan Alive”.
“I have a long history of performing in Gilbert and Sullivan” says Richard “My grandparents took me to see The Gondoliers when I was nine years old and I was hooked. It was always my dream to perform G&S, and when I left college I auditioned for the New D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and spent three years touring with them. I’m bringing my enthusiasm and experience to this production.”
Reflecting on the music in Ruddygore, Russell adds: “You’ve got the contrast of dark rich chords, creating ghostly elements, but also very whizzy, fast patter songs, dances, a lot of wit and huge amounts of fun!”
Audiences can expect a traditional production, with a few surprises and plenty of fresh, playful twists. The dynamic cast features familiar and new faces to the society. Popular comic baritone Paul Eccles returns as Ruthven Murgatroyd, opposite Rowan Stanfield (last seen as Casilda in The Gondoliers in 2019) as Rose Maybud, with Tim Gordon as Despard Murgartroyd, Wendy Dovey as Dame Hannah, Nigel Lawton (Roderic Murgatroyd), John Kimberley (Old Adam), Lucy Sarsfield (Zorah) and Melody Westcott (Ruth).
Newcomers to the principal cast are Rebecca Hughes as Mad Margaret and Eve Chatfield as Richard
Dauntless.
Ruddygore or The Witch’s Curse
Devonshire Park Theatre, 4th-7th May 2022
Nightly at 7,45pm with matinees (2.30pm) Wed & Sat
Tickets from https://www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk 01323 412000
Further information about the society: www.EastbourneGandS.com
Press contact (not for publication): Rowan Stanfield 07747725331 rowanstanfield@yahoo.com
Personality Profile Director: Richard Woodall
Richard Woodall was born in Solihull, West Midlands, and studied Performance Arts at Middlesex University, and singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was a founder member of the reformed New D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, for whom he has sung a number of roles and recordings, toured the UK and California, and appeared in West End seasons.
He has worked with English National Opera and Opera North on numerous productions, and has also performed with Grange Park Opera, Buxton Festival Opera, Opera Della Luna, London Opera Players, Pavilion Opera, Crystal Clear Opera, and many others, in roles including Scarpia in ‘Tosca’, Figaro in both ‘The Barber of Seville’ and ‘The Marriage of Figaro’, Leporello in ‘Don Giovanni’, Giorgio Germont in ‘La Traviata’, Doctor Dulcamara in ‘L’Elisir d’Amore’, Mustapha in ‘The Italian Girl in Algiers’, Banquo in ‘Macbeth’ and Amonasro in ‘Aida’.
Singing work has taken him to Europe, the USA and China. He toured the UK in Cameron Mackintosh’s production of ‘Oliver!’ which also played for a three month season in Toronto, Canada.
In 2015 he performed the role of Reb Mordcha in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ with Bryn Terfel at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms season, and has made a number of Proms appearances throughout his career. He continues to perform opera, operetta and recitals with many UK companies.
He is particularly well known for his work in the Savoy Operas, and has performed many of the leading bass-baritone roles in the operas with professional companies throughout the country.
Now resident in Eastbourne, he is looking to expand his singing teaching practice whilst continuing to perform, and is looking forward to directing his first major production, ‘Ruddygore’ with the Eastbourne Gilbert and Sullivan Society at the Devonshire Park Theatre in May.