Young Vic Archives
Ruddigore
2024
Overview
Ruddigore has been performed only twice at Young Vic (1998 and 1972). So our 2024 production generated great enthusiasm with performers and audiences alike. Attendance exceeded expectations and gave the theatre one of its most successful seasons. As in 2023, a livestream option was available as well as on-demand.
Although not widely performed, Ruddigore has made a few contemporary appearances, including an episode of “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.” And the song "My Eyes Are Fully Open,” was in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” on Broadway.
Ruddigore was directed by Young Vic's Artistic Director Catrin Rowenna Davies along with Music Director and Conductor J. Ernest Green.
Selected Images
Show Program
Download a PDF version of our printed 2024 patrons program (click here).
2024 Post Card Mailer
Show Synopsis
Act I
In the town of Rederring, in Cornwall, a chorus of professional bridesmaids frets that there have been no weddings for the last six months. All of the eligible young men are hopeful of a union with Rose Maybud, the prettiest maiden in the village, yet they are too timid to approach her.
The desperate bridesmaids ask Rose's aunt, Dame Hannah, if she would consider marrying, but she has vowed to remain eternally single. Many years previously, she had been betrothed to "a god-like youth" who turned out to be Sir Roderic Murgatroyd, one of the bad baronets of Ruddigore. Only on her wedding day had she discovered his true identity.
Dame Hannah tells the bridesmaids about the curse of Ruddigore. Centuries ago, Sir Rupert Murgatroyd, the first Baronet of Ruddigore, had persecuted witches. One of his victims, as she was burnt at the stake, cursed all future Baronets of Ruddigore to commit a crime every day, or perish in inconceivable agonies. Every Baronet of Ruddigore since then had fallen under the curse's influence, and died in agony once he could no longer bring himself to continue a life of crime.
After the horrified bridesmaids exit, Dame Hannah greets her niece, Rose, and asks whether there is any young man in the village whom she could love. Rose, who takes her ideas of Right and Wrong from a book of etiquette, replies that all of the young men she meets are either too rude or too shy. Dame Hannah asks particularly about Robin Oakapple, a virtuous farmer, but Rose replies that he is too diffident to approach her, and the rules of etiquette forbid her from speaking until she is spoken to.
Robin enters, claiming to seek advice from Rose about "a friend" who is in love. Rose says that she has such a friend too, but Robin is too shy to take the hint. Rose's devotion to etiquette prevents her from taking the first step, and so they part.
Old Adam, Robin's faithful servant, arrives and addresses Robin as Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd. Robin reveals that he is indeed Sir Ruthven, having fled his home twenty years previously to avoid inheriting the Baronetcy of Ruddigore and its attendant curse. He tells Adam never to reveal his true identity.
Now Richard Dauntless, Robin's foster-brother, arrives after ten years at sea. Robin tells him that he is afraid to declare his love to Rose, and Richard offers to speak to her on his behalf. When Richard sees Rose, however, he falls in love with her himself and proposes immediately. After consulting her book of etiquette, Rose accepts. When Robin finds out what has happened, he points out his foster-brother's many flaws through a series of backhanded compliments. Realizing her mistake, Rose breaks her engagement with Richard and accepts Robin.
Mad Margaret appears, at loose ends and crazed. She has been driven to madness by her love for Sir Despard Murgatroyd, the "Bad Baronet." She is jealously seeking Rose Maybud, having heard that Sir Despard intends to carry Rose off as one of his daily "crimes." Rose tells her, however, that she need not fear, as she is pledged to another.
They leave just in time to avoid the arrival of the Bucks and Blades, who have come to court the village girls, followed by Sir Despard, who proceeds to frighten everyone away. He muses that, although he is forced by the family curse to commit a heinous crime every day, he commits the crime early, and for the rest of the day he does good works. Richard approaches him and discloses that Despard's elder brother Ruthven is alive, calls himself Robin Oakapple, and is going to marry Rose later that day. The elated Despard declares himself free of the curse, as he can now transfer the baronetcy to his brother.
The village gathers to celebrate the nuptials of Rose and Robin. Sir Despard interrupts, revealing that Robin is his elder brother and must accept his rightful title as the Bad Baronet. Rose, horrified at Robin's true identity, resolves to marry Despard – who refuses her: now free of the curse, the ex-baronet takes up with his old love and fiancée Mad Margaret, who is ecstatic. Rose then accepts Richard, as he "is the only one that's left." Robin leaves to take up his rightful identity as Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd.
Act II
At Ruddigore Castle, Robin (now Sir Ruthven) tries to come to grips with being a bad baronet, a task at which he proves to be spectacularly lacking. Old Adam suggests various evil crimes, but Robin prefers minor acts that are not criminal, but "simply rude". Richard and Rose enter to ask Robin's consent to their marriage, which he gives grudgingly.
Robin's weak crimes stir his ancestral ghosts from their usual haunt of the castle's portrait gallery. The curse requires them to ensure that their successors are duly committing a crime every day, and to torture them to death if they fail. They inquire as to Robin's compliance with this requirement.
They are not pleased to learn that the newly-recognised baronet's crimes range from the underwhelming (filing a false income tax return: "Nothing at all", say the ghosts; "Everybody does that. It's expected of you.") to the ridiculous (forging his own will and disinheriting his unborn son). Robin's uncle, the late Sir Roderic Murgatroyd, orders him to "carry off a lady" that day or perish in horrible agony. After the ghosts treat him to a sample of the agonies he would face, Robin reluctantly agrees. He tells Adam to go to the village and abduct a lady – "Any lady!"
Despard, meanwhile, has atoned for his previous ten years of evil acts and has married Mad Margaret. The two of them now live a calm, dispassionate life of moderately-paid public service. They come to the castle and urge Robin to renounce his life of crime. When Robin asserts that he has done no wrong yet, they remind him that he is morally responsible for all the crimes Despard had done in his stead. Realising the extent of his guilt, Robin resolves to defy his ancestors.
Adam has now complied with Robin's orders but has unfortunately chosen to abduct Dame Hannah. The dame proves formidable indeed, and Robin cries out for his uncle's protection. Sir Roderic duly appears, recognises his former love and, angered that his former fiancée has been abducted, dismisses Robin. Left alone, he and Dame Hannah enjoy a brief reunion.
Robin interrupts them, accompanied by Rose, Richard and the bridesmaids. He quibbles that, under the terms of the curse, a Baronet of Ruddigore can die only by refusing to commit a daily crime. Refusing is therefore "tantamount to suicide", but suicide is, itself, a crime. Thus, he reasons, his predecessors "ought never to have died at all."* Roderic follows this logic and agrees, stating that he is "practically" alive.
Now that Robin is free of the curse, Rose once again drops Richard and happily resumes her engagement to Robin. Roderic and Dame Hannah embrace, while Richard settles for the First Bridesmaid, Zorah.
Cast Bios
Thomas Hochla
Robin Oakapple
A familiar face at Young Vic, Thomas Hochla, baritone and choreographer, is grateful to return for his seventh season since dear Strephon in 2016 (Iolanthe). Most recently, Mr. Hochla had the pleasure of bringing Matt/the boy (The Fantasticks) to life in Annapolis with LiveArts Maryland. Locally, some may recall his musical direction with various churches, choral concerts, and educational productions in and around Baltimore and Metro-DC. An avid Maryland transplant, Mr. Hochla has performed at a wide array of venues across the city including Theatre Project, Oregon Ridge, and the Lyric. When not on stage or behind the organ, Mr. Hochla maintains a varied teaching schedule through Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Single Carrot Theatre, and Mike’s Music in Ellicott City. Additionally, he can be found teaching movement-based classes of all sorts at CorePower Yoga locations. Mr. Hochla holds a BA from Vassar College and his MM from Peabody.
Louis Tiemann
Richard Dauntless
Louis Tiemann, tenor, comes from Maryland where he works with various local companies in leading and supporting roles. Recently he sang the role of Borsa and covered the Duke with Opera Delaware in Rigoletto. As an Apprentice Artist at Chautauqua Opera in summer 2023, he performed as Anthony in Sweeney Todd and Don José in La tragédie de Carmen under Steven Osgood. Other favorite roles include Werther and Alfred in Die Fledermaus. Louis holds an Artist Diploma from William Jewell College, a Master's from Bard College Conservatory and a Bachelor's from Towson University. He finds joy offstage in playing classical guitar, learning languages, practicing photography, and quality time with his cat, Romulo.
Spencer Adamson
Despard
Spencer Adamson returns to Young Vic after appearing as Giuseppe in last year’s The Gondoliers. His recent performances include leading and comprimario roles and extensive chorus work in local and national opera houses, plus other classical music venues. Recently, Mr. Adamson made his debut at the Capitol Fringe Festival presenting new American works with Silver Finch Arts Collective singing the roles of Pastor Cleary in The Female Stranger, Peter in Dreamless, and Eli in The Name on the Door. Mr. Adamson recently made his solo debut on two grand opera stages: The Lyric Opera House, Baltimore and The Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, DC singing the roles of Fiorello in Lyric Opera Baltimore’s production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and as The Confederate Soldier in Washington National Opera’s premiere of Philip Glass’ newly-written production of Appomattox. Previous season highlights include the roles of Marquis d’Obigny in La Traviata with Baltimore Concert Opera, Tonio in Pagliacci and Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana with HUB Opera Ensemble, Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance with YVT, and chorus work with Washington National Opera, Baltimore Lyric Opera, Baltimore Concert Opera, and Washington Concert Opera.
Timothy Kjer
Sir Roderic
Bass Timothy Kjer is excited to be adding Ruddigore into his G&S repertoire. He has performed with many of the leading music organizations in the mid-Atlantic region including OperaDelaware, OperaBaltimore, Annapolis Opera, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Baltimore Opera, Center Stage Opera, Concert Artists of Baltimore, Live Arts Maryland, Lyric Opera Baltimore, New Jersey Lyric Opera, Washington Summer Opera, Washington National Opera, Washington Concert Opera, Opera Vivente and Wolf Trap Opera.
Operatic roles include Ramphis (Aida), Monterone & Sparafucile (Rigoletto), Banco (Macbeth), Bartolo & Basilio (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Lindorf, Coppélius, Dapertutto, Dr. Miracle (Les contes d’Hoffmann), Méphistophélès (Faust), Filippo II (Don Carlo), Leporello (Don Giovanni), Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Friar Laurent (Romeo et Juliet), Friar Tuck & Will Scarlett (Robin Hood), Taddeo (L’Italiana in Algeri), Sacristan & Angelotti (Tosca), Simone & Betto (Gianni Schicchi), Dottore Grenvil & Marquis (La Traviata), Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus), Prince Yamadori (Madama Butterfly).
Previous Young Vic performances include Dick Deadeye in HMS Pinafore, the Notary in The Sorcerer, Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance, Giuseppe in The Gondoliers, The Usher and Counsel in Trial by Jury, and Pish-Tush in The Mikado.
Mr. Kjer is a veteran elementary school vocal music teacher of the Baltimore City and Baltimore County public school systems. He is happily continuing to perform in live operatic productions.
Kevin Smith
Old Adam
Kevin D. Smith is glad to return to Young Vic, having performed in the choruses of Pirates of Penzance (2022) and Gondoliers (2023). Kevin spent 13 years in the chorus of the Indianapolis Opera and four seasons in the chorus of Florida Grand Opera before moving to Baltimore in 2021. He has worked in numerous Indiana and Florida theaters as musical/vocal director, leading productions ranging from Les Miserables to The King and I to Avenue Q. He has played leading roles ranging from John Adams in 1776 to Max Bialystock in The Producers to Caldwell Cladwell in Urinetown: The Musical. He holds degrees in Vocal Performance, Accounting and Arts Administration from Butler University, and is a licensed CPA in Indiana, Florida and Maryland.
Emily Casey
Rose Maybud
Soprano Emily Casey is thrilled to be making her return to Young Victorian Theater Company after appearing in last year’s The Gondoliers as Gianetta. The DMV native has been praised for the clarity, range and flexibility of her voice as well as her skillful dramatic and acting abilities. Reviewed as a “red haired vixen with a sparkling voice” by Opera Canada in a recent performance as Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme, she has performed many leading roles with companies across the United States, Canada and Italy. She has been hailed as a “standout” and praised for her “musical lyricism” and has been noted for her talent in embodying both dramatic and comic characters on the operatic stage and musical theater stage alike.
Past operatic highlights include performances as Pamina (The Magic Flute), Musetta (La Bohème), Gulnara in Verdi’s Il Corsaro, Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Juliette (Roméo et Juliette), La Zelatrice (Suor Angelica), Susannah (Susannah), Hannah Glawari (The Merry Widow), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi) and La Voix in Poulenc’s vocally and dramatically demanding La Voix Humaine.
Ms. Casey has appeared in concert with Maryland Lyric Opera, Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, Columbia Orchestra, Trinity Chamber Orchestra and Frederick Symphony Orchestra. She has had the pleasure of working with some of the most famous names in opera including Catherine Malfitano, Aprile Millo, Richard Bonygne, Marco Gandini, Renée Fleming and Sherrill Milnes. More information and schedule can be found at EmilyCaseySoprano.com and on social media platforms as @EmilyCaseySoprano
Rebecca Sacks
Mad Margaret
Rebecca Sacks is known for her unique timbre and stylistic versatility. With a voice described as “powerful” and “simply excellent,” she has won awards from the American Prize, the Orpheus Competition, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Ms. Sacks’s roles performed include Fricka in Das Rheingold, Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Die Hexe and Gertrud in Hänsel und Gretel. Recent seasons saw her take on Sara in Roberto Devereux with St. John’s in the Village Music, Fricka in Das Rheingold with the Miami Wagner Institute, Gertrud and Die Hexe in Hansel and Gretel with Boheme Opera New Jersey and Philadelphia Opera on Tap respectively, as well as Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana and Pepa in Goyescas with Delaware Valley Opera Company. In the 2024-2025 season, she will make role debuts as Mad Margaret in Ruddigore and Mrs. Anderssen in A Little Night Music.
Hannah Wardell
Dame Hannah
A veteran YVT presence, Hannah Wardell is an emerging artist known throughout the greater Baltimore area for her unique timbre and enchanting stage presence. Hannah’s opera credits include Kate in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, Teresa in Bellini’s La Sonnambula Romeo in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi, The Princess in Dargomyzhsky’s Русалка (Rusalka), Polina in Tchaikovsky’s Пиковая дама (The Queen of Spades), Cherubino in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, The Third Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Dorabella in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Iolanthe in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe, and The Sorceress in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. In addition to opera, Hannah is an avid performer of art songs, and has been recently granted the “Rubinstein Award” from the “Triumph International Russian Competition” based out of Philadelphia. Hannah received her undergraduate degree from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV and completed her master’s degree at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University where she studied under baritone, Steven Rainbolt.
Cassidy Dixon
Zorah
Cassidy Dixon is a soprano and a recent graduate from the Peabody Conservatory with a Master of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy. Ms. Dixon recently made her role debut as Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore with Opera Magnifico, where she was praised for portraying “a sassy Adina through her powerful vocal range and volume” by the Black River Journal. Other recent performances include Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro and Musetta in La Boheme with Opera Magnifico, Belinda in Dido and Aeneas with the Sotto Voce Ensemble, Fiametta in The Gondoliers and Edith in The Pirates of Penzance with the Young Victorian Theatre Company, and Elizabeth Bennet in the stage premiere of Pride and Prejudice at Peabody Conservatory. Ms. Dixon has won many prizes and awards, including with the Friday Morning Music Club, the Sylvia Green Vocal Competition, Saltworks Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Praised for her silvery tones, Ms. Dixon has also been a soloist with the Trinity Chamber Orchestra, the Annapolis Chorale, the Columbia Pro Cantare Chorus, and the Amadeus Orchestra. She is thrilled to return to Young Vic for the third time as Zorah in Ruddigore.
Emma Leigh Webster
Ruth
Emma Leigh Webster is thrilled to be making her Young Vic return after her debut as Giulia last summer in The Gondoliers. Known for her strong acting choices across styles and genres, past roles include Flavia (Silla), La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi), Suor Dolcina (Suor Angelica), La Dame élégante (Les mamelles de Tirésias), and Ann (Speed Dating Tonight!). Since graduating, Ms. Webster has continued to perform across the Mid-Atlantic region. She received her Bachelor of Music from Lawrence University and Master of Music in Voice Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.
