Ruddigore, Or The Witch's Curse
Playhouse Qpac
Gilbert and Sullivan’s Ruddigore, or The Witch’s Curse, will cast a spell on the Playhouse QPAC, with OperaQ’s new production playing 14 – 29 July.
Expect madness, mayhem and eccentricity in Opera Queensland Artistic Director Lindy Hume’s take on the weird and wonderful show, with Ruddigore reuniting some of the stars of her critically acclaimed production of Bernstein’s Candide from 2015.
You’ll see the talented Bryan Probets and the awesome Christine Johnston taking the roles of Robin Oakapple and Mad Margaret. Other roles are taken by Natalie Peluso, Kanen Breen, Jason Barry-Smith, Roxane Hislop and Andrew Collis.
Ruddigore, or The Witch’s Curse is about the law-abiding gentleman farmer, Oakapple, who works up the courage to ask the beautiful Rose Maybud to be his wife. What he fails to mention is that he’s the heir to a curse befalling all Baronets of Ruddigore and that he’s been living in disguise to avoid a terrible fate.
As with all Gilbert and Sullivan creations, there’ll be plenty of bright sing-along musical numbers, including the 'Matter' trio and Rose’s 'Etiquette' song, all enhanced by Richard Roberts’ sepia-tinted Victoriana-inspired design.
Says Lindy Hume about the show, “The audience can expect the unexpected, some delicious pythonesque surprises, crazy larger than life characters, uninhibited villainy, the living dead, and a haunted castle, all set against the backdrop of a quaint English village.”
Need to know - Performances are on: Jul 14-15, 20, 27-29 7.30pm; Jul 15, 29 1.30pm; Jul 19, 25-26 6.30pm.
Nice to know – Check out www.operaq.com.au for pre-performance talks, Opening Night dinner and the “Mystics Emporium” cocktail party on the QPAC rooftop.
By Vicki Englund
OperaQ is a valued partner of Must Do Brisbane.com
Playhouse, QPAC
Melbourne St
Cnr Grey St
South Brisbane
Jul 14-29
$65-$130 + trans fee
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