Ruddigore Act 2 | The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company | Chicago 2024

The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company's 2024 production of Ruddigore.
Cast
Liam Gannon | Robin Oakapple
Katherine Petersen | Rose Maybud
Jonathan Zeng | Richard Dauntless
Molly Clementz | Mad Margaret
Dorian McCall | Sir Despard Murgatroyd
Conor Broaders | Sir Roderic Murgatroyd
Sara Stern | Dame Hannah
Lifan Deng | Old Adam Goodheart
Al Kassouf | Zorah
Elizabeth Fisher | Ruth
Ensemble
Sophia Altamirano (u/s Zorah)
Ariel Andrew
Katya Bakas (u/s Margaret)
Gabrielle Goudard
Alexis Langlois
Aidan Spencer
Mary Nora Wolf
Noah Friedlander | Sir Rupert
Peter Dannug | Sir Lionel
Andy Terwilliger | Sir Conrad u/s Despard
Peter Cutler | Sir Desmond u/s Roderic
Chiemerie Obianom | Sir Gilbert u/s Adam
Nikhil Harle | Sir Mervyn u/s Dauntless
Benjamin Recchie | Sir Norbert
Production Staff
Shane Valenzi, Director
Paige Dirkes-Jacks, Associate Director
Matthew Sheppard, Music Director/Conductor
Nancy Levner, Producer
Noah Friedlander, Associate Producer
Mary Nora Wolf, Associate Producer
Shane Valenzi, Choreographer
Mary Nora Wolf, Associate Choreographer
Shelby Krarup, Stage Manager
Isabel Schmitz, Assistant Stage Manager
David Goodman-Edberg, Lighting Designer
Rachel Sypniewski, Costume Designer
Jacqueline Davis, Costume Designer Assistant
Isabella Grace Noe, Scenic Designer
Victoria Granacki, Scenic Designer Consultant
Mariah Bennett, Properties Designer
Mark Bilyeu, Rehearsal Pianist
Emily Krasinski, Rehearsal Pianist
Roger M. Huff, Supertitle Director
Emily Krasinski, Supertitle Operator

[@ianbond3885]

Overall such an excellent production. Such a pity then that it is marred at the last moment by the inclusion of the act two finale in the version that Gilbert and Sullivan themselves ditched within the first week of the original production. The authorized version, and that which was therefore printed in the vocal score (until Geoffrey Toye revised the opera in 1919/20) ends with "O happy the lily" in 9/8 time, ending the opera in a much more spectacular and unique way. It is to be hoped that if this company reproduces this production at some point in the future, they will restore that version of the finale.