Word: despard
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Angered by Richard's betrayal. Robin finally speaks up and convinces Rose to marry him rather than a treacherous sea-dog like Richard. On the day of their wedding, however, the evil Sir Despard Murgatroyd (Brian Martin) appears and reveals that Robin is really Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, Despard's older brother and heir to the baronetcy of Ruddigore. The heir, says Despard, inherits the family fortune--as well as the family curse...
Also delivering a strong performance is Martin as the evil Despard. He portrays Despard's madness with a joy and energy that is marvelous; his deep, diabolical laugh and insane facial expressions make him a wonderful character. Martin also displays remarkable range. Despard, freed from the family curse, becomes puritanical, and Martin handles this dramatic reversal well. He depicts the new Despard with a stiffness that is entirely appropriate...
...Rose's mild-mannered suitor, Short delivers his lines with an endearing relish, and his vain, half-hearted attempts to appear dastardly and evil at Ruddigore Castle are subtly humorous in contrast to the dastardly quality of Despard. Though Short has a pleasant singing voice, he suffers by close comparison to the divine Thompson in their duet in the first...
Wandering into the storyline are Richard Dauntless (Dan Hovey), an old friend of Robin who knows his true origins and fall in love with Rose; Sir Despard Murgatoyd (David Chase) Robin's younger brother who inherited the family curse after the supposed death of his brother and who plans to carry Rose off as one of his crimes, and Mad Margaret (Katherine Sommers), who is desperately in love with Sir Despard, Professional bridesmaids--frustrated country maids--and country gentlemen who later double as Murgatroyd ghosts provide delightful choruses and cavort and dance all over the stage...
...direction of the large group scenes is quite adept. She can cram the stage with numerous bustling actors yet the audience's attention remains clearly focused. Bonn and choreographer Holly Hendrickson devised several good moments for smaller scenes as well; the sight of Richard dancing in and out of Despard's cape as they scheme together provides one such memorable...