Monday, March 21, 2011

A Steampunk Night at the Operetta - Ruddigore

Miss Cherries & Gina (Mad Margaret) Wilhelm


 Director Danielle Villegas & a cast member

Well, Miss Cherries has had an exciting weekend, dear readers for to tell you the truth; it was my birthday on Friday.  I know you will not believe it, but I am officially 124 years old.  Of course I am a time traveler, like many of you, and I have been told that I don’t look a single day over 100.  I was born in 1887, but I won’t tell you how old I am officially, that wouldn’t do at all.  In observance of the day, my dear beau treated me with a night at the theater.  We went to see the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Ruddigore (or the witches curse) and this is what I would most like to tell you about.



This charming comic ghost story suffers from a severe case of anachronism, however, the director Ms. Danielle Villagas, did a smashing job of re-envisioning the play in the Steampunk style.  The costumes were wonderful, and the sets, especially those in the last act were especially interesting with moving shadow gears in the background and ghosts stepping out of old frames.  


I will not go into the story line here as one can read up on it except to say that the operetta is a shameless spoof of the many popular melodramas of my century. These include ghosts, a mad woman, a pretty maid, a cast of professional bridesmaids, a jilted lover and a hapless baronet cursed to perform one crime per day or die in unspeakable agony.

While the first act was plagued with technical problems, the comedy was broad enough for the audience to read even if the singers could not be heard well over the orchestra.  In the second act this problem was partially remedied as mikes were repaired and the sound better projected from the stage. Ms. Villegas appropriately broad comic staging of the chorus and the principals conveyed the story hysterically.

Everyone in the cast was good, but I must say there were three stand- out performances that night.  First was Gina Wilhelm as Mad Margaret. Personally I think this role the most fun of a cast of really madcap characters.  Untypically, she appears on the scene, madness in full bloom and slowly goes (almost) sane in the course of the play.  The character suggests to her new husband that whenever she starts to “slip” he say the word Basingstoke to calm her.  Gina wavers between wild-eyed murderous insanity and wobbling calm with every utterance of the term.  Astoundingly, she was in such good voice this night,that I could hear every word she sang.

In the second case, there was Mr. Gene Ma who played Sir Roderick Murgatroid, the ghost who taunts the hero into doing his “duty” and performing a heinous crime.  Mr. Ma is a small man with a huge baritone voice.  Played against Nick Fuchs (Dame Hannah) who is well over 6 feet tall, the two played a hilarious duet, “There grew a little flower”, in Act II which left Miss Cherries breathless with laughter. I declare, I was vaporous…positively fainting!

Finally, there was a minor player who I could not take my eyes off all evening.  Miss Erin Wise in the role of the first bridesmaid, Zorah, was utterly precious.  Miss Wise’s suggestive (dare I say risqué?)antics in trying to get and keep the attentions of the fickle sailor Richard Dauntless, kept me laughing right through the play, even when I could not hear the singers over the orchestra (a consequence which could not be helped).

 Erin ( Zorah) Wise & Miss Jubilee

After the play, Mr. Fulminate and I tripped next door to a lovely traditional public house called “The Irishman”.  Hunger ruled the hour and so I abjured my usual abhorrence of “pub grub” (shudder)I ordered fish and chips.  I am so glad I did, because the food was plentiful and very good and inexpensive.  Though I am usually a light eater, I felt compelled by the celebration of the day to have dessert.  I was presented with St. James cake, a luscious spice cake made with Guinness stout, full of raisins an topped with caramel glace’ and cream charlotte.  It was simply delicious with a great cup of black coffee to cut the sweetness. If you have occasion to visit Everett town you must visit this lovely pub, as much for the food as for the grand selection of Irish whiskey.
 Miss Jubilee in a (gasp) pub!

All in all, this 124th birthday was the best in recent memory. People in Everett were agog over our Steampunk togs and several people mistook Mr. Fulminate for a cast member.  What fun!  Until we meet again, dear readers, I remain Cherries Jubilee… spreading Steampunk cheer and steam posh gear wherever I go.

Copyright Cherries Jubilee 2011

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