You may not be familiar with this lesser-known Gilbert and Sullivan show, but “Ruddigore” is rowdy, racy — without being offensive — and musically first-rate.
This Northwest Savoyards production is definitely worth a visit.
Not many shows hold the promise of watching a team of professional bridesmaides in fishnet stockings, wacky paintings that come alive, actors mixing it up with the audience and a dude coming out of nowhere playing a huge red organ on stage.
I agree with director Danielle Villegas who said “Ruddigore” marked Gilbert and Sullivan as the Coen Brothers (“Fargo” and “O Brother Where Art Thou”) of their time.
By the way, Villegas deserves high praise for her novel adaptation of this 130-year-old operatta, combining the techno-sexy with vaudeville with a Gilbert and Sullivan score.
Speaking of score, I haven’t yet mentioned that the singing is really quite stunning. The real standouts in this cast include Meagan Castillo as Rose Maybud, Lance Zielinski as Richard “Dick” Dauntless, Gina Wilhelm as Mad Margaret, Gene Ma as Sir Roderic Murgatroyd, Dave Holden as Despard Murgatroyd and Rob Martin as Sir Ruthven .
Nick Fuchs does a damned good cross-over role as Dame Hannah.
I’m not going to blow the farcical storyline which has ever changing and re-arranging coupling and a persistent curse, except to say that you’ll like Act I and like Act II even more .
“Ruddigore” performs at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday through March 20 at Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave, Everett. Tickets are $22 for adults, $19 for kids, seniors and military. Call 425-258-6766 or go to Historic Everett Theatre .
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