Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

disguise, however, is presently penetrated by the Lady Psyche, who recognises Florian as her
brother; but she promises to keep the secret, for, truth to tell, she, like most of the other inmates, is
already tired of her man-excluded life, and gladly welcomes the intruders. This interview is
overheard by Melissa, the daughter of Lady Blanche, who relates all to her mother; but the latter
also decides to keep the secret since, if Hilarion should succeed in winning the Princess Ida, the
College will then fall to her own leadership, and her lifes ambition will thus be gained. But when
the Princess at last discovers that the three new-comers are men she is furious, and runs from their
presence at once; and in crossing a bridge she falls into a stream, from which she is rescued by
Hilarion. In spite of his ready gallantry, however, she still refuses to marry him, and, instead,
orders him to be thrust into a dungeon with his two companions. This command has no sooner
been carried out than King Hildebrand storms the Castle, and commands the Princess to set his son
at liberty and marry him without fail by noon next day.
In Act 3 the lady students prepare to defend their liberty; but they grow very half-hearted in the
task on beholding the Kings manly followers and realising that life holds other joys beside the
study of Abstract Science. Finally it is decided to settle the whole matter by a contest between the
three sons of Gama and Hilarion and his two companions, the Princess to be freed from her
marriage contract should the latter be defeated. The contest takes place and ends in the victory of
Hilarion, who claims Princess Ida as his bride; and the latter, whose growing love for him has
gradually broken down all her "advanced" notions, has no longer any objection to the union. Cyril
and Florian also find brides in Lady Psyche and Melissa; and the ambitious Lady Blanche is left in
possession of her coveted office as leader of the Womens College.
163. RUDDYGORE; OR, "THE WITCHS CURSE."
Comic Opera in Two Acts By Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan
Libretto By Sir W. S. Gilbert
First Produced London, January, 1887
Chief Characters Rose Maybud, Mad Margaret, Hannah, Robin Gakapple (Sir Ruthven
Murgatroyd), Sir Despard Murgatroyd, Richard, Adam
"RUDDYGOREåpresents us with a very amusing satire upon the mid-Victorian highfalutin
melodrama; and the plot centres round the working out of a Witchs Curse laid upon Sir Ruthven
Murgatroyd, the first of the Murgatroyd Baronets, who was an inveterate foe and persecutor of the
sorcery of his day. The curse compels the holder of the title to commit a crime every day, and it
has continued in the family through all the succeeding generations. At the beginning of the opera
the present Baronet, Sir Ruthven, in order to prevent the curse falling upon him, has vanished from
the Castle, and, disguising himself as a rustic youth under the name of Robin Oakapple, is
dwelling in the neighbouring village; and the title has consequently fallen upon his younger
brother, Despard, upon whom the curse also descends, causing him to commit a crime every day.
Robin Oakapple has fallen in love with Rose Maybud, an orphan, who is the belle of the village;
but as he is very shy his love-making does not progress very well, greatly to the disappointment of
a bevy of pretty "Professional Bridesmaids," who have come to the village hoping to render their
services at the expected wedding. Robins foster-brother Richard, a sailor, arrives in the village,
and, seeing the state of affairs, tries to hurry matters by pleading Robins cause with Rose; but the