Ruddigore

I first became acquainted with this particular G&S work in 1956 when it was chosen to be our school production for that year. Several decades have passed since I sang of the “ghosts’ high noon and these days much more is made of Halloween, the eve of All Saints’ Day when people dress-up as ghouls, ghosts and skeletons. So, acknowledging that times and customs have changed, I was delighted to learn that the Production Director Adam Bishop, himself an experienced performer in several of the Savoy Operas, was bringing a new slant to this production. Curtain-up saw the cast dressed in modern attire which provided a most effective contrast in Act II when the pictured characters stepped out of their frames. Gone are the days when only the official photographer took pictures of the proceedings - now nearly every person present at weddings and other social gatherings takes photos on their mobile phones, including several ‘selfies’ of course, as in this show. The large orchestra, conducted by Leslie Crowson, ensured that the delights of Sullivan’s music were delivered competently to a very appreciative audience; the elegant choreography, devised by Sarah Dorson, matched the dance tunes precisely. A well devised lighting plan together with sound and special effects contributed significantly to this performance. The overall result was an extremely entertaining production, cleverly executed and containing much humour, with superb characterisation from the very talented principals ably supported by other cast members. Discreetly updated but still very much G & S - congratulations to all involved!  

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