Ruddigore by Gilbert & Sullivan
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Audition Packet Ruddigore By Gilbert & Sullivan Director: Jeffrey Madison Hailed for his dramatic diversity, baritone and stage director, Jeffrey Madison has performed and directed a varied repertoire from grand opera and operetta to musical comedy. While maintaining a regular performance schedule, Jeff has recently turned his attention to directing with recent projects as stage director for Big Top Chautauqua’s production of Steerage Song by Peter Rothstein and Dan Chouinard and most recently the midwest premiere of Blue Viola by Peter Hilliard and Matt Boresi with Lyric Opera of the North. Ruddigore marks the third G&S production in as many years at the Underground with successful productions of Trial by Jury and Iolanthe preceding it. Audition Information AUDITIONS: Monday Oct 31st and Tuesday Nov. 1st Start time is 630pm. Please prepare one song from a Gilbert and Sullivan piece or classic music theater. Gilbert and Sullivan fits firmly into classical voice theater so a piece that shows a classical technique and some comedic ability is a plus. There will be some excerpts from the dialogue to read and can be picked up from the playhouse ahead of time. All dialogue will be done in a high English dialect. Auditions will be held at the Playhouse Conservatory (230 West Superior St; entrance on 3rd Ave. West between Superior and Michigan St) If you cannot make these auditions contact Robert Lee, [email protected], 218.733.7559 to arrange another time. Here is a link to the score. It does not contain the dialogue, however it can be easily found on the web as this show is in the public domain. http://hz.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/6/6e/IMSLP162130- PMLP50454-Sullivan_-_Ruddigore_VS_IArchUNC.pdf Here is link with all sorts of information on the history of the show. (Libretto as well) http://www.gilbertandsullivanarchive.org/ruddigore/html/rg_home.html Bring a picture and resume along with the audition form filled out (attached to the packet). Sample picture resumes are available on our website (duluthplayhouse.org under ‘auditions’ tab). The Duluth Playhouse auditions are open to all actors and actresses, including those who may be auditioning for the first time and professional or Equity actors and actresses. Callbacks are as needed on the second half of Nov. 1st Rehearsal and Performance Information: Musical rehearsals- Jan 26th and 27th Staging rehearsals- Jan 30th through March 1st Mon-Friday 6-930pm (No weekend rehearsals!) Performance Dates: March 2nd-11th, Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm. Performances will be in the Underground. Six shows total. Ruddigore Synopsis and Character Breakdown Synopsis "Ruddigore, or The Witch's Curse" was the 10th collaboration between Gilbert and Sullivan. The operetta is a parody of the stock melodrama — the villain who carries off the maiden; the priggishly good- mannered poor-but-virtuous-heroine; the hero in disguise, and his faithful old retainer who dreams of their former glory days; the snake in the grass who claims to be following his heart; the wild, mad girl; the swagger of fire-eating patriotism; ghosts coming to life to enforce a curse; and so forth. But as one critic noted, Gilbert turns the moral absolutes of melodrama upside down: Good becomes bad, bad becomes good, and heroes take the easy way out. The Baronets of Ruddigore are cursed. Anyone who succeeds to the title has to commit a crime every day — or perish in inconceivable agony. Robin Oakapple, a young farmer loves Rose Maybud, but both are too shy to tell the other. But Robin has a secret. He is really Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, the rightful Baronet of Ruddigore, in disguise. His younger brother, Despard, believing Ruthven to be dead, has assumed the title. Robin's foster brother, Richard, seeking Rose for himself, tells Despard of Robin's deception, and Robin is forced to accept his true position, losing Rose to Richard in the process. Now the Baronet of Ruddigore, Robin is confronted by the he ghosts of his ancestors who step from their picture frames in the gallery of Ruddigore Castle to confront him for failing to conscientiously commit his daily crime. Robin eventually finds a way of satisfying his ancestors demands whilst continuing to live a blameless life... Character Breakdown: Robin Oakapple (later Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd): Playing age 20-35, Singing Range: Lyric Baritone Character: Robin starts the show as a self-effacing, modest simple farmer; and finishes as much the same, except that his “duty” switches from “good” to “evil” between Acts. Robin is a shining example of the Gilbert’s topsy-turvy triumph of “the right thing” over “the good thing”. Robin requires comic timing, and the ability to convincingly play both humble and heroic.... and to be remarkably unconvincing as a villain. Robin requires a wide variety of vocal abilities and good fast patter ability with precision. Richard Dauntless Playing age 25-40, Singing Range: Tenor, up to a high B flat Character: Richard (Dick) is rakish and charming, always looking out for himself, while able to justify his unscrupulous behavior to his own - and often everyone else’s - satisfaction through some impressive verbal gymnastics. Richard’s songs sit fairly high in the tessitura and he needs to have an easy top G and A. The song “You understand” will also move at lightning speed, so patter ability is important. Sir Despard Murgatroyd : Playing age 25 - 35+, Singing Range: Baritone, low A to E above middle C Character: Despard is our villainous, Snidely Whiplash character - a true “Hiss-The-Villain”, moustache- twirling cliché. He is the slightly younger brother of Robin, cursed in Robin’s place (believing him dead) to commit evil each day, and this life of depravity has made him seem much older. Despard has always despised his duties as a malefactor. In Act two, however, his sinister nature takes a puritanical turn, and his focus shifts to being firmly in control of his love, Mad Margaret. Our Despard is used to having power in all its forms, but the love of a good woman has a transformative effect on him. Sir Roderic Murgatroyd Playing age 40+, Singing range: Baritone, low A flat to D above middle C Character: The most recent decedent and leader of the Ancestors, Roderic revels in his power to torture Ruthven, and is very protective of the august tradition of Evil in his family line. Engaged to Dame Hannah prior to his death, Roderic is an old aristocrat with a strong sense of dignity. Together he and Dame Hannah were the “power couple” of their day - she was certainly the only one worthy of him. Unfortunately, like Mad Margaret and Despard, their romance was also thwarted. Old Adam Goodheart Look & Voice: Playing age 45+, Singing Range: Bass-Baritone, Low E flat (below the Bass stave) to D above middle C Character: Old Adam is the token commoner for Ruddigore and the village of Rederring. In Act 1, he is the most devoted, loving, good servant possible. And in Act 2, the most committed, dastardly evil henchman possible. He is completely devoted to whatever Robin needs, for good or evil. With only the briefest of singing moments, Adam will need to be 150% character driven, and it is essential that our audience likes him, even when (maybe especially when) he is a “baddy” and empathizes with his devotion. Rose Maybud Look & Voice Playing age 17-25, Singing range: Lyric Soprano, 2 octaves to top B flat Character: Rose is the love prize of our story, in the most materialistic sense of the word. She is a rosy cheeked, blooming, prim maiden completely driven by a mania for Victorian manners and a desire for materialistic wealth. Rose is attracted to Robin. In the world of Topsy Turvy she will get all that she wished for, with an inherent criticism of precisely those values. Mad Margaret Playing age 35+, Singing Range: Mezzo Character: Mad Margaret is the hero of our show. She is present from the beginning as a inhabitant on the fringe of society. She who wanders through the First Act, thoroughly mad and obsessing about her love for Sir Despard Murgatroyd, the current Baronet of Ruddigore. Her love was thwarted when he inherited the title and the curse. Our Mad Margaret will need to be physically athletic, she must move from poignancy to madness in seconds, and she must have an excellent sense of comedic timing. Musically Margaret has a split personality, with potential for sudden timbre shifts in her recitative while still maintaining her sense of line and focus. Her solo references many of the famous mad scenes including Lucia di Lammermoor, and Ophelia. Dame Hannah Look & Voice: Playing age 50+, Singing Range: Contralto, low A flat to E two above middle C Character: Dame Hannah has a pivotal plot role, giving the audience the story of the curse. She’s also the second (possibly) mad older lady of the tale. Her love interest died some time back, and she still mourns him and refuses to marry. Ghosts- Sir Rupert, Sir Jasper, Sir Lionel, Sir Conrad, Sir Desmod, Sir Gilbert, Sir Mervyn Featured ensemble of men that play the ancestral Baronets of Murgatroyd, they descend from their picture frames and torment young Robin. Professional Bridesmaids Chorus- Playing age late teens to 30ish. Featured ladies ensemble. Playhouse Audition Form Please bring this completed form with you to the audition along with a resume & current photo or headshot. The photo/headshot can be in an upper corner of the resume of attached separately. Name Home Address (Including Zip) Primary Phone # Other Phone# E-Mail: Age Height Weight Hair Color Is there a particular role in the show you are most interested in? Yes No If yes, which one(s)? Will you accept another part if not offered any listed above? Yes No If you do not get a part, would you be interested in working on tech crew or backstage? Yes No Do you sing, dance, play piano or have other special talents? If so, please explain level of skill: (Please list any musical instruments that you play and skill level) Do you have ANY conflicts with the rehearsal/performance schedule? Yes No Please list ALL conflicts below (be as specific as possible to dates, times).