Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore

The main target of Gilbert's satire in Ruddigore is 19th century melodrama. His story, set in the quaint Cornish village of Rederring, contains many elements of the genre, including a sweet village maiden, a mad maiden, a wicked baronet, a rakish sailor, a (seemingly) innocent hero and a witch's curse, which is the catalyst for the famous ghost scene in the picture gallery. Sullivan's music is among the finest he ever wrote, especially for the high drama of the second act.