First Parish in Needham to Present ‘Ruddigore’

On Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22, the First Parish in Needham Unitarian Universalists will present "Ruddigore," Gilbert and Sullivan's madcap musical romp through the English seaside in 1815, replete with haunted castles, fair maidens, ghosts coming out of ancestral portraits and a madwoman stalking the graveyard. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. both nights.

"'Ruddigore' has some of the wittiest, most memorable numbers ever sung, and it's tied together with the brilliant, absurd satire that has made Gilbert and Sullivan such a staple of musical theater," said Diane Greco, director of the production.

"The characters are Gilbert and Sullivan masterpieces, and there is a classic, inimitable plot twist that frees them all from gloom and doom" Greco continues. "Along the way, they take jabs at the wedding industry, tax codes, lawyers, opera, and idyllic village life. It's a delight for all ages.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and seniors, and can be purchased online at www.uuneedham.org. First Parish is located just off the town square at 23 Dedham Ave (route 135).  Guests are asked to enter through the Lincoln Street doors.  There is ample parking in the town lot off of Lincoln Street.

For more information, go to www.uuneedham.org or call the Parish office at 781-444-0823.