Editing Ruddigore (section)

==Productions==
[[File:Ruddigore - Weir Collection.jpg|thumb|Poster from 1887, with Rose and Robin]]

In contrast to its predecessor, ''[[The Mikado]]'', ''Ruddigore'' had a comparatively short original run of 288 performances.  The provincial tour was very brief, closing by early June 1887. Gilbert designed the ladies' and principals' costumes himself, while [[C. Wilhelm]] created the Ancestors' costumes. The set was by [[Hawes Craven]].<ref name=R&WAppendixVIII>Rollins and Witts, Appendix, p. VIII</ref> Six portraits of the ancestors that appeared in Act II of the original London production have survived and are on display at Normansfield Hospital Entertainment Hall, southwest London.<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=ruddigore&w=29983310%40N00 Portraits six ancestors from ''Ruddigore''] on Flickr, 24 October 2009</ref> A production in New York with D'Oyly Carte personnel ran for 53 performances. The opera was not revived during Gilbert and Sullivan's lifetimes.

The first revival was in December 1920 in Glasgow, and the first London revival was the following year. The opera was cut and heavily revised, including a new overture and a new second-act finale.  The revival was a success, and from that point on, ''Ruddigore'' was a permanent fixture in the D'Oyly Carte repertory until its closure in 1982. New costumes were designed by [[Percy Anderson (designer)|Percy Anderson]] in 1927.<ref name=R&WAppendixVIII/> It was included in every season until the winter of 1940&ndash;41, when the scenery and costumes (along with those of three other operas) were destroyed in enemy action. In Australia, no authorised production of ''Ruddigore'' was seen until 23 June 1927, at the Theatre Royal, [[Adelaide]], produced by the [[J. C. Williamson]] company.  A new D'Oyly Carte production debuted on 1 November 1948, with new costumes and an Act II set designed by [[Peter Goffin]].<ref name=R&WAppendixVIII/> From then on, it was played in every season through 1976&ndash;77, aside from 1962&ndash;63 (a season that included a lengthy overseas tour). New touring sets were designed by Goffin in 1957.<ref name=R&WAppendixVIII/> In the late 1970s, the Company started to play a reduced repertory. ''Ruddigore'' was included in the 1976&ndash;77 tour, then for five months in 1978&ndash;1979; and finally in 1981&ndash;82.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In 1987, the New Sadler's Wells Opera produced ''Ruddigore'' using a new edition of the text that restored many of the passages that prior productions had cut.<ref name=NewSadlers>Shepherd, Marc. [http://gasdisc.oakapplepress.com/rudnswo.htm The New Sadler's Wells ''Ruddigore'' (1987)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702035509/http://gasdisc.oakapplepress.com/rudnswo.htm |date=2 July 2016 }}, The Gilbert and Sullivan Discography, 18 September 2008, retrieved 2 August 2016</ref> Among recent professional productions, the [[International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival|Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company]] has mounted the opera at the [[Buxton Opera House]], and both Britain's [[Opera North]] and America's [[New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players]] mounted well-regarded stagings in 2010.<ref>Ashley, Tim. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jan/31/ruddigore-review "Ruddigore"]. ''The Guardian'', 31 January 2010</ref><ref>Smith, Steve. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/arts/music/19ruddigore.html "Gilbert, Sullivan and Some Not-So-Helpful Ghosts"].  ''The New York Times'', 18 January 2010</ref> Opera North revived its production in 2011<ref>Mogridge, Geoffrey. [http://www.opera-britannia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=575:ruddigore-opera-north-30th-september-2011&catid=8:opera-reviews&Itemid=16 "Ruddigore: Opera North"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402212127/http://www.opera-britannia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=575:ruddigore-opera-north-30th-september-2011&catid=8:opera-reviews&Itemid=16 |date=2 April 2012 }}, Opera Brittania, 3 October 2011</ref> and 2012.<ref>Kettle, David. [https://archive.today/20130202074651/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/performing-arts/opera-review-ruddigore-opera-north-edinburgh-festival-theatre-1-2348851 "Opera review: Ruddigore: Opera North, Edinburgh Festival Theatre"], ''The Scotsman'', 11 June 2012</ref>

The following table shows the history of the D'Oyly Carte productions in Gilbert's lifetime:

{|class="wikitable"
!Theatre!!Opening date!!Closing date!!Perfs.!!Details
|-
|nowrap|Savoy Theatre||22 January 1887||5 November 1887||align=center|288||First London run.
|-
|[[Fifth Avenue Theatre]], New York||21 February 1887||9 April 1887||align=center|53||Authorised American production.
|}