What is Ruddigore?
{{Infobox play | name = Ruddigore | image = Ruthven.JPG | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = Henry Lyton as Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd | writer = [[W. S. Gilbert]] (words)<br />[[Arthur Sullivan]] (music) | chorus = | characters = Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd<br />Richard Dauntless<br />Sir Despard Murgatroyd<br />Rose Maybud<br />Mad Margaret<br />Dame Hannah | mute = | setting = Fishing village in [[Cornwall]], [[England]] | premiere = 22 January 1887 | place = Savoy Theatre<br />[[London, England]] | orig_lang = English | series = | subject = | genre = [[Operetta]] | web = | playbill = | ibdb_id = | iobdb_id = | theatricalia_id = }} '''''Ruddigore; or, The Witch's Curse''''' is a two-[[act (theatre)|act]] [[operetta]] by [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]. It was premiered by the D'Oyly Carte [[Opera]] Company on 22 January 1887 at the Savoy Theatre in [[London, England]]. It ran for 288 performances over 8 months. It is the tenth of the fourteen operettas written by Gilbert and Sullivan. ==Roles== * Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd (comic [[baritone]]), disguised as a young farmer named Robin Oakapple * Richard Dauntless ([[tenor]]), his foster-brother and a man-o'-war's-man * Sir Despard Murgatroyd ([[bass-baritone]] or baritone), a wicked baronet * Old Adam Goodheart ([[Bass (vocal range)|bass]]), Robin's faithful servant * Rose Maybud ([[soprano]]), a village maiden * Mad Margaret ([[mezzo-soprano]]) * Dame Hannah ([[contralto]]), Rose's aunt * Zorah (soprano), a professional bridesmaid * Ruth (speaking/chorus), a professional bridesmaid * Sir Roderic Murgatroyd (bass-baritone), a ghost == Story == The baronets of Ruddigore are compelled to commit a crime every day under a witch's curse. Robin Oakapple is a baronet of Ruddigore who has fled the curse. He and his love, Rose Maybud, are about to marry when Robin's identity is exposed. In Ruddigore Castle, Robin cannot commit himself to a life of crime. The portraits of his ancestors come to life