"RUDDYGORE, OR THE WITCH'S CURSE." Production of Gilbert and Sullivan's New Comic Opera. Some Tit-bits from the Libretto. (From Our London Correspondent.) London, January 27.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 195, 19 March 1887, Page 5

"RUDDYGORE, OR THE WITCH' S CURSE." Production of Gilbert and Sullivan's New Comic Opera. Some Tit-bits from the Libretto. (From Our London Correspondent.) London, January 27.

•'Ruddygoke, or the Witch's Cureo" is, Jfona includee "Thespis" and "Trial by Jury," the tenth of the comic operas written in collaboration by Mr Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan. Such a phenomenal series of successes has never before been known in theatrical history. Eight of the works are favourites in every quarter of the globe, and the tenth and last, I can safely prophesy, w ill be at leaefc equally popular. "Ruddygore"naoronea?ly rGserables"The Sorcerer" than any other of the Gilbert iind Sullivan seri6B. The first act is as nearly perfect as possible. It goes with a verve and swing that disarms criticism, and prevents one thinking till lator how atrnple are the materials employed. Owing partly to a frightfully long interval, and partly to the fact that both actora and the applauding portion of the audience (boxes, pit, «md gallery) were dead tired, the second act on Saturday night lagged some we at, »ud there was a narrow escape of tbo curtain falling on an anti-climax. In reality, however, this second act is quite as funny as it predecessor, aud eu Monday eveniug i(< played squally well. Comparisons where these Savoy successes are concerned are not merely "odorous " hut dangorous Tho Press thought Iho '•Mikado " a falling off on " Priucoss Idu," yet tho Japanese opera ran just twice as long as tho " re^p^cfnl tr ivestio " of Tennyson's poem. Tho Frees now pronounces "Ruddygore" a falling off from the "Mikado." Well, I can only flay 1 don't agroo with the verdict. During the week I have been to see the new "original supernatural opera " at the Savoy twice and on each orcmon I enjoyed myself mo3t thoroughly. Sullivan at any rate ha? surpassed himself. The story of " Ruddygore " is to the full as whimsical up any of ifs predecessors. When tho curtain rises it disclo?c-< a charm ing set representing the Cornish fishing village of Redcrring, with n bevy of pretty girl* in tho qu-unt rhrrt-w.'uVed dresses of the latter end of George lll. 'a reign, singing meni.y, This is the Kedernng " en■dowed corps of profession il bridesmaids/ ■which has been le'ained by the local authorities to be ready to grace the nuptials of the village beauty, Rose Maybird, which are expected to tako place momentarily. " Everyday (they sing) - As the clays roll on Bridesma'ds' garb we gaily don, Sure that ti maid so fairly lamed Won't very long remain unclaimed." But, alas ! the girl ie obstinate, and won't ielect a husband from her muny suitord. The bridesmaids h.ive beon on duty ready to eing " Hn.il to the Bride, etc," at the faintest encoiragr-ment froru 10 t«> 4 for tho last cix months, and are beginning to fear that unless the light man comes soon, the corps w ill be disendowed. Rose hor?elf, a prim Jit'lo puss, now appear?, and tells u=» that (after the manner of properly constituted heroines in melodrama) ehe i* ft foundling As a babe she was hung in a plated di^h-cover on the knocker of a workhouse door, with nought "but a change of baby linen and a book on etiquette This b-illowed volumo she values above all earthly things, and refers to it continually for guidance throughouljthe play. Thus when the elderly Dame Hannah hints at, Rn&e's preference for Farmer Robin Oakappie the young lady censulte her nook on etiquette to ascertain if love is quite conect. Her doubts are expressed vocally in a delightful ballad, of which tho following is a verso : — If somebody there chanced to be Who loved me in a manner true, Sly heart u ould point him out to me, And I would point him out to you. {Refeninf/ to book.) But here it says of those who point. Their manners must bo out of jointYon viay not point— You must not pointIt's manncis out of joint, to point I Had I tho love of such as he, Some quiet spot he'd take me to, Then he could whisper it to me, And I could whisper it to you (Referring to the book ) But whispering, I've s'omew here met, Is contrary to etiquette : Where can it be 1 (Starehino book.) Xow lot me sec— (Finding Reference.) Yes, Yes ! It's contrary to etiquette ! The bafbful younc farmer Robin Oakapple is (like all properly constituted heroes of melodrama) really Eomebody else, and a very terrible somebody elee too — none other, in fact, than the head of the accursed house of Murgatroyd. The firat baronet of the line, it eeems, who lived in Jame3 I.'s time, got his progenitors into sad trouble through an evil habit of burning witches. Sir Rupert Murgatroyd His leisure and his riches lie ruthlessly employed In persecuting witches. With fear he'd make them quake— He'd duck them in his lake— He'd break their bones With sticks and stones, And burn them at the stake ! This sport he much enjoyed, Did Rupert Murgatroyd— No sense of shame Or pity came To lUipcrt Murgatroyd ! Once, on the village green, A palsied hag he roasted, And what took place, I ween, Shook his composure boasted. For, as the torture grim Seized on each withered limb, The writhing dame 'Mid fire and flame Yelled forth this curse on him :— " Each lord of Ruddygore Despite his best endeavour, Shall do one crime, or more, Onco, every day, for ever ! This doom he can't defy However he may try. For should he stay His hand, that day In torture he shall die !" The prophecy came true : Kach heir who hold tho title Had, every day. to do Some crime of import vital ; Until, with guilt o'orplied, "I'll sin no more !" lie cried, And on tho day lie said that say, In agony lie died ! To avoid the effect of the curse, Robin tor ratber Sir Ruthven) explains that he fled To an old retainer who addresses him as Sir Ruthveu, he says :—: — Twenty years ago, in horror at the prospect of inheriting that hideous title , and with it tho ban that compels all who succeed to the baronetcy to commit at leasb t>ne deadly crime per day, for life, 1^ fled ■my home and concealed myself in this innocent village under the name of Robin Oakapple. My younger brother, Deepard, believing me to ba dead, succeeded to the title and its attendant curse,. For twenty years I have been dead and buried. Don't dig me up now. foster brother Richard, a man o'wara man of the true " Pinafore " type, now appears on the scene (juat arrived home in the H,M. schooner Tom Tit), and trolls out a lively ballad which ends in a hornpipes

and will be one oi the great favourites of the piece. It describes an encounter between the little " Tom-Tit " and a large French frigate. The French meant to fight, but the" Tom-Tit " out of pure compassion for " the poor Parley- voo," retused to, sailing away instead. The "D'ye see?" is extraordinarily effective : — Then our Captain he uo and he says, says he, " That ohap we need not fear, - We can take her, if wo like, She is sartin 'or to strike, For she's only a aarned Mounscer. D'ye see? She's only a darned Moxmseer ! But to light a French fal-lal-it's like hittin' of a galIt's a lubberly thing for to do ; For we, with all our faults, Why we're sturdy British salts, While she's only a Parley voo, D'ye see? A miserable Parley- voo " Robin confides his love for Rose to Richard, likewise hie bashfulnese. Rich. You love in vain ? Oomo, that's too good ! Why you're a fine strapping muscular young fellow -tall and strong as a to'- gall'n-m'at -taut aB a fore stay -aye, and a barrowknight to boot, if all had their rights ! Rob. Hush, Richard — not a word about nay true rank, which nono here suspect. Yes, I know well enough that few men are better calculatei to win a woman's heart than I. I'm a fine follow, Dick, and worthy any womau's love— happy the girl who gets me, sayT. But I'm timid, Dick; shy — nervous —modest — retiring —diffident — and I cannot tell her, Dick, I cannot tell her ! Ah, you've no idea what a poor opinion i have of myself, and bow little I deserve it. A pong follows which was evidently written specially for Mr Groeemith (Robin). He delivers it, of course, inimitably :— My boy, you may take it from me, That of all the aiHctions accurst With which a man's saddled And hampered and addled, A diflldent naturo's the worst. Though clever as clever can be— A Crichton of early romance— You must 9tir U and stump it, And blow your own trumpet, Or, trust mo. yoti haven't a chance. If you wish in the world to advance, Your merits you're bound to enhance, You must stir it and stump it, And blow our own trumpet, Or, trust :no, you haven't a chance I Richard agrees to plead Robin s cause with Rose, but 01 seeing the damsel falls in love with her himself and basely proposes. Rose is much embarrassed, but has recourse to the book of etiquette. Rose {aside). Now, how f-hould a maiden deal with such an one? (Consults book) ''Keep no one in unnecessary suspenee." {Aloud.) Bohold, I will not keep you in unnecessary suspense. {Refers to book ) "In accepting an offer of marriage, do so with apparent hesitation." {Aloud ) I take you, but with a certain show of reluctance (Refers to book.) " Avoid any appearance of eagerness." (Aloud) Though you will bear in mind that I am far from anxious to do so. (Refers to book,) "A little show of emotion will not" be misplaced !" (Aloud ) Pardon this tear ! (Wipes her eye.) When, however, Robin reproaches Rose with her faithlessness, she repents, and shows signs of returning to him. On this Richard resolve? to publicly dieclo°e Robin's identity with that of Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, and to oblige him to fulfil the obligations of the curse An infamous person compelled to commit a crime a day, Roso (ho prides himself) could never marry. The present head of thefamily, the sombre Sir Despard Murgatrjyd, with his gang of Bucks and Blades, meanwhile arrives at Referring from tho family seat of Ruddygore to abduct Rose Maybud, this being his crime for that day only. Sir Despard'a deecription of himself is in the best Gilbeitian manner. His hands, be tells the populace, are steeped in infamy, but his heart is as tho heart of a little child. But what is a poor baronet to do, when a whole picture gallery of ancestors step from their frames and threaten him with an excruciating dc-a^h, if he heeitate to commit his daily crime ? But ha ! ha ! I am oven with them ! {Mysteriously ) I get my crirao over the first thing in the morning and then, ha ! ha ! for the rest of the day Ido good- 1 do good — I do good ! (Melodramatically). Two days since, I stole a child and built an orphan asylum. Yesterday I robbed a bank and endowed a bishopric. To day I carry off Rose Maybud, and atone with a cathedral ! This is what it. is to be the sport and toy of a Picture Gallery ! But I will b,? bitterly revenged upon them ! I will give them all to the Nation, and no body shall over look upon thoir faces again ! Tho first act ends with Richard's disclosure of Robin's identity and tho latter's misery at finding himeelf compelled to admit that he ia Sir Ruthven. Sir'Deapard, on the other hand, is overjoyed at being at) last able to live a blameless life and die regretted by all who knew him He resolved to turn intensely respectable and wed Mad Margaret, an erratic damael whom his crimes have driven mad. This finale includes a madrigal, a gavotte and a duet, which are amongst tho finost things Sullivan has ever written. The wholo ends with a rollicking chorus and dance that brought down tha house. The second act takes place in tha picture gallery at Ruddygore. Here we find Robin no longer mild and bashful, but loud and truculent as becomes tho " bad Bart." For thirty five years I've been sober and wary— My favourite tipple came straight from a dairy— I kept guinea pigs and a Belgian canary - A squirrel, white-mice, and a small black and tan. j I played on the flute and I drank lemon squashes— I wore chamois leather, thick boots and macintoshes, And things that will some day bo known as goloshes, The type of a highly respectable man 1 For the rest of my life I abandon propriety - Visit the haunts of Bohemian society, Wax- works, and other resorts of impiety, Placed by a moralist under a ban. My ways must be those of a regular satyr, At carryings-on I mu-t be a first raterGo night after night to a wicked thcayter— It's hard on a highly respectable man ! Well, the man who has spent the first half of his tether On all the bad deeds yoii can bracket together, Then goes and repents -in his cap it's a feather— . Society peta him as much as it can. [ It's a comfort to think, if I now go a cropper, I shan't, on tho whole, have done more that's improper, Than he who was once an abandoned tip-topper, But is now a highly respectable man 1 I Unfortunately, the crimes Robin commits I are not wicked enough to Batisfy his ancesI tors, who descend fron their picture frames at midnight, and, headed by the specially atrocious Sir Roderick (Ruthven'e uncle), call him to account. A blood- curdling ballad by Sir Roderick (aa senior ghost) signalises the spectres advent. This, is the opening verse : — When tho night wind howls in the chimney cowls, and the bat in tho moonlight flies, And inky clouds, like funeral shrouds, Bail over the midnight skies - When the footpads quail at tho night-bird's wail, and black dogs bay the moon, Then is the spectres' holiday— then is the ghosts' high-noon ! Chorus. Ha! ha! Then is the ghosts high-noon ! The dialogue between the ghosts and their hapless descendant is co genuinely

humourous I cannot forbear appending it. 'Leti the sub-editor excieo it -if he has the heart to do so. Sir R<sd. It is our duty to see that our successors commit their da'ly crimes in aconsctentious and workmanlike fashion. It is our duty to remind you bhafc you are evading the conditions under which you are permitted to exist. Rob. Really I don't know what you'd have. I've only been a bad baronet a week, and I've committed a crime punctually every day. Silt Rod. Lot us onquira into this. Monday ? Rob. Monday was a Baak Holiday. Sir Rob. True. Tuesday ? Rob On Tuesday I mado a false income tax return. All Ha ! H»\ ! Ist Ghost. That's nothing. 2nd Ghost, Nothing at all. 3rd Ghost. Everybody dooa that. 4th Ghost. It's expected of you. Siu Rod. Wednesday 1 Rob. (melodramatically), O» Wednesday I forged a will. Sir Rod. Whose will '! Rob. My own. Sir Rod. My good sir, you cxn't forge your own will ! Rob. Can't I though ! I like that ! I did ! Besides, if a man can't forgo hia own will, whose will can ho forgo ? Ist Ghost. There's something in that. 2nd Ghost. Voe, it seems reasonable. 3rd Ghost. At first sight it doeß 4th GiiobT. Fallacy somewhere, I fancy ! Rob. A man can do what ho likes with his own v Sir Rod. I suppose he can. Rob Well then, ho can forge his own will, stoopid ! On Thursday 1 chot a fox. Ist Ghost. Hear, hear ! Sir Rod That's batter (addressing Ghosts) Pass the fox, I think ? ( They assent). Yes, pass the fox. Friday ? Rob. On Friday I forged a cheque, Sir Rod. Whose cheque? Rod. Gideon Crawle's. Sir Rod. But Gideon Crawle hasn't a Banker. Rob. I didn't say I forged his banker — I taid I forged his cheque. Ist Ghost. That's true. 2n*d Ghost. Yes, it seems reasonable. 3ki> Ghust, At firet glance it does. 4th Ghost. Fallacy somewhere ' Rob On Saturday I disinherited my only son. Sir Rod But you havon't got a son. Rob. No -not yet. I disinherited him in advance, to save timo. You see — by this arrangement - he'll be born ready disinherited. Sir Rod. I teo. But I dou't think you can do that. . Rob. My good sir, if I can't disinherit my own unborn son, whose unborn eon can I disinherit? Ist Ghost. That's right enough. 2nd Ghost. Yes, it seems reasonable. 3rd Uhost. Afc first sight it djs-*. 4th Ghost. Fallacy somowhue ! Sir Rod. Yes, theso arguments sound very well, but I can't neld thinking that, if they were roduced to syllogistic form, they wouldn't hold water. Now quite understand us. tVe are foggy, but we don't permit our fogginess to be presumed upon. Unless you undertake to — well, suppose we say, carry off a lady ? (addressing Ghosts.) Those who arc in favour of his carrying off a lady— (all hold up their hands except a Btihop) Those of the contrary opinion ? - (Bishop holds up his hands). Oh, you're never satisfied 1 Yes, unless you undertake to carry off a lacly at once— l don't care wh^t lady— any lady — choose i your lady— you perish in inconceivable agonies. Robin at la&t agrees to abduct Riso Maybud, but, owing to a blunder, his retainers carry off old Dame Hannah. The latter is in a fine frenzy, and frightens the young man so that he calls on his ancestor, Sir Roderick, for help. Sir Rodcirck rises half-way through the floor in clouds of red fire, but instead of the dame boing fright- j ened she recngni=es him as her old lover, " Roddy doddy," and porsuadeß him to "come up" for a talk, The piece ends with an opportune discovery on Robin's part : Rob. An idea occurred to me. A Baronet of Ruddygore can only die through refusing to commit hie daily crime. Rod. No doubt. Rob. Therefore, to refuse to commit a daily crime is tantamount to suicide ' Rod. It would seem so. Rob. Bufc suicide is, itself, ft crime— and so, by your own showing, you ought none of you to have ever died at all ! Rod I see— l understand !We are practically alivo ! Bob. Every man jack of you ! Rod. My brother ancestors ! Down from yovir frames ! (The Ancestors descend ) You believe yourselves to be dead — you may take it from me that you're not, and an application to the Supreme Court is | all that is necessary to prove that you never ought to have died at all ! (The Ancestors embrace the JJndesmaids). Enter Richard and Rose, also Despard and Margaret. Rob. Rose, when you believed that I was a simple farmer, I believe you loved me? Rose. Madly, passionately ! Rob. But when I became a bad baronet, you very properly loved Richard instead ? Rose. Passionately, madly ! Hob. But if I should turn out not to be n bad baronet after all, how would you love me then ? Rose. Madly, passionately ! Rob. As before ? Rose. Why, of course ! Rob. My darling ! [They embrace. The piece hung fire rather towards the end on Saturday evening, and possibly will require a little clippiug. The most; amusing scenes in the second act are those between the reformed Sir Deepard and Mad Margaret, whose outbursts the former retrains by the free use ot the cabalistic word " Basingstroke." After they have sung an amusing duet on the subject of their former vices Robin enters : Rob. Despard 1 And his young wife ! This visit is unexpected. Mar Shall I fly at him ? Shall I tear him limb from limb ? Shall I rend him asunder ? Say but the word and— Des. Basiugstoke ! Mar. (suddenly demure). Basingstoke it is ! Des. (Aside). Then make it so. (Aloud), My brother— l call you brother, still, despite your horrible profligacy — We have come to urge you to abandon the evil courses to which you have committed yourself, and at any cost to become a pure and blameless ratepayer. Rob. That's all very well, but you seem to forget that on the day I reform I perish in excruciating torment. Des. True— yo« could die so well ! Rob. You didn't seem to be of this opinion when you were a bad baronet. Des. No, because I had no good brother at my elbow to check me when about to do wrong, Rob. A home-thrust indeed ! (Aloud), But I've done no wrong yet. Mar. (Wildly), No wrong! He has' done no wrong i Did you hear that ? ■ Des. Basingstoke. Mar. (Recovering herself), Basingstoke,

Dcs My brother— l still call you brother, you observe -you for^efc that you have baen, in the eyo of the law, a Bad Baronet of Ruddygore for ten years — and you are therefore roaponeible - in the eye of the law — for all the misdeeds committed by the unhappy gentleman who occupied your place. Rojb. Meaning you ? Dfif?. Meaning me, Rod. I see ! Bless my heart, I never thought of that! Was he— was I very bad? Des. Awful. Wasn't he? (to Margaret ) Mar. Desperate ! Oh, you were a flirt ! Rob. And I've been going on like this for how long ? Des. Ten years ! Think of all tho atro cities you have committed - by attorney ns it were— during that period, llomember how you trifled with tliia p-jor child's j affections— how you raised her hopes on high (don't cry, my lovo-B^ingstokc, you know), only to trample them iv tho dust when they were at the very zenith of their fulnoes. Oh fie, sir, fie— aho trueted you ! Rob. Meaning you 1 Des. Nothing of the kind, sir. I was simply your representative. Roc. Woll, meaning its, thsn. What a scouudrel wo must havo been ! There, there -don't cry, my dear [to MarcjatU'/t, loho issohbiriffon Rojjin's brcasi), it's all right now. Birmingham >ou know—Birmingham- 1 -- Mar. {'iohbivrj ) It's Ba—Ba—Basingstoke ! Rob. Basingstoke ! of cour«o it is — Baaingstoke. Mar. Then make it so ! The notable vocal pieces iv the second act include a charming ba ! l.\d " Grant thou my prayer" for R036 ; an o!d English air with tho refrain " Sing hey, Lackaday " for Dame Hannah ; a pattor trio "So it really doesn't nutter " for Robin, De^pard and Mad Margaret ; and a duet for tho last named pair " We were tho victims of circumstances." Of tho acting of "Ruddygore" I need only say it was as good as all the efforts of the world-famous company and Mr Gilbert's drilling could make it. Mr Gros?mitb (Ribin) ia always a little nervous on first nights, and Mies Leonora Braham (Roee) was suffering from a cold, but Mr Rutland Barrington (Sir Despard). Mips Bond (Mad Margaret), and Mr Durward Lely (Ricbaid) never showed to greater advantage. Mr Grossmith does not fit; the parts of either Robin or Ruthven over well, but Mr Rutland Barrington, whother in the chatacter of the wicked Sir Daspard or the reformed Rev, DeBpard, is screamingly funny, The triumphs par excellence of Saturday were, however, Miss Jo^eio Bond's Mad Margaret and Mr Durward Lely'a man-o'-warsraau Richard Dauntlese. The latter acted with extraordinary vivAcity, and his constant references to his " honest 'earfc' for guidance in contemplated rascalities evokes shouta of laughter, *'My 'cart it says to me, it saye, ' Dick, my boy >n ("it calls me Dick 'cos it's known mo since I was a babby "), or ("it calls me Dick 'co 3 we was at school tergether '"), or (" it call* me Dick 'cos its entitled to take that familiarity "), &c. Equally quaint are tho chorus of <l eadowed brido»maids," who en the faintest symptom of love-making between any pair on r,he R^age, place their hands behind them liko charity school-girls, and burst shrilly mto — " Hail to the bridegroom ! HtUl to the bride ! Lot the nuptial knot be tied," &c. Mr J, C. Wiliiameon has, I am informed, the colonial rights of " Ruddygoro," which will' be produced in Melbourne loxfcJfwiUi.