This document summarizes Ruth Shankel's participation in Officially Wacky Boolprop Challenges over multiple years of college. It describes her roles in Gilbert & Sullivan operettas such as The Pirates of Penzance, The Gondoliers, HMS Pinafore, and The Mikado. It also details her developing relationship with Ryan Miller, from him initially finding her weird to realizing he likes her. By graduation, Ruth has a bronze robotics badge while Ryan has a silver badge, and they plan to marry now that they are both graduating from college.

1. This is Ruth Shankel.

2. Ruth is going to found an Officially Wacky Boolprop Challenge, possibly even with this
guy.
A full list of handicaps and mini-challenges is available at the Boolprop thread for this
story, but here’s a quick summary:
Post A Story (3 points)
Base Game (12 points)
Open For Business (12 points)
University (12 points)
BoolProp Naming Scheme (10 points)
BoolProp ClubHouse (10 points)
Family Scrapbook (10 points)
Workaholics Anonymous (15 points)
If all goes well, Ruth’s family could net me a whopping 84 points.

3. Of course, that doesn’t really matter, since I have to deduct about a million points for
this.
These are Ruth’s parents, Aren Sanders and Valerie Shankel.

4. Yes, folks, Ruth is a playable, and if I have anything to say about it, she and her family
will be marrying playables to keep the population in the ‘hood low. (snickers)
Please excuse me for a moment.
“Keep the population low.” (hysterical laughter tinged with desperation)

5. (clears throat) I’m back. Yes. Well.
Ruth comes from my story Already in Progress, which can be found in the Fictional
Stories forum over on Boolprop. She even made the cover a chapter or two ago. (See her
there in the back?) Feel free to drop by any time. [/shameless self-promotion]
One quick note: If you’ve arrive here directly after reading Chapter 26 of Already in
Progress, I warn you that parts of this chapter will seem awful familiar. It’s all part of
keeping the two stories independent for my readers. It won’t happen again, I promise.
And now, without further ado, it’s…

6. It’s probably worth mentioning at this point that Ruth and family will be sporting what I
unofficially consider to be wacky Maxis hair, makeup, clothing, and jewelry. And one
final note: Ruth is a huge fan of Gilbert & Sullivan. I may even rip off their plots pay
tribute to their genius at some point, although I have tried to make it so that you don’t
need be a Savoyard* to understand or to be entertained. Because of that, and the
deliberate fashion choices, and because of the whole population-control thing, this is
actually Ruth’s (un)Officially Wacky Boolprop Challenge.
Welcome, and I hope you enjoy your stay!
*Savoyard (noun): A fan of Gilbert & Sullivan.

7. Remember the guy from a few pictures back? Well, that’s Ryan Miller (another
playable), and here he is at college.
RYAN: Hi, Ruth.
RUTH: Oh, hi, Ryan. Do you know if they have any Froot Loops?
RYAN: I, uh, haven’t seen you in a while.
RUTH: How’s Lucy? Weren’t you two dating?
RYAN: I, uh, not exactly…
RUTH: Gee, that’s too bad. Did you give me an answer on the Froot Loops?
I’m sure you don’t need the swoopy harp sound effects to let you know what just
happened. Unfortunately, Ryan had objections to Ruth when he was a Teen…

8. RYAN: So, Simon… What do you think of Ruth?
SIMON: She’s my cousin. I don’t.
RYAN: No, not like that. I mean… She’s weird, right?
SIMON: Ruth? Weird? Nah.
RYAN: But her hair, and that makeup, and the music stuff she’s into?
SIMON: Ruth isn’t weird. She’s wacky. That’s what’s with the hair and makeup. I notice
you didn’t mention the outfits.

9. RYAN: I have no problem with the current outfit. You have to admit it has
certain…advantages.
SIMON: Hey – my cousin.
RYAN: Sorry. But what about the singing?
SIMON: Now you sound like my aunt. Have you ever watched any Gilbert & Sullivan?
RYAN: No.
SIMON: Their stuff’s pretty funny, actually. The tunes are very catchy. I’m not into them
like Ruth is, but it’s still good. And it makes her happy. There’s nothing wrong with
happy, now, is there?
RYAN: No, I guess not…

10. RYAN: Hey, Ruth. Whatcha watching?
RUTH: The Pirates of Penzance.
RYAN: Oh. Uh – Hey, is that Kevin Kline?
RUTH: Uh-huh. This is how he got his start. He played the Pirate King on stage, and the
rest is history.
RYAN: I didn’t know that. I like Kevin Kline. Uh, his movies, I mean.
RUTH: Do you want to watch with me? It just started. I can run it back for you.

11. (Overture begins)
RYAN: This is by those opera guys you’re into, right?
RUTH: Gilbert & Sullivan, yup.
RYAN: I thought you had all their shows memorized.
RUTH: Most of them. But it’s always nice to see them again. Plus, there’s a group here
that’s putting on Pirates and I wanted to try out for Ruth. The “piratical maid-of-all-
work.” This isn’t the best version ever, but it’s fun, and probably pretty much everyone
who tries out will be imitating Angela Lansbury from this movie, so I wanted to watch
again and be sure I’m not. If that makes sense.

12. DIRECTOR #1 (bored): Okay, what’s your name, and are you trying out for a particular
part?
RUTH: Yes, my name’s Ruth Shankel, and I’m also trying out for Ruth.
DIRECTOR #1: Ruth… for Ruth. Easy to remember. “When Fred’ric was a little lad”?
RUTH: Yes, please.
(piano begins)

13. RYAN: So, how’d it go?
RUTH (squeals): I got it! I got it! I got the part! (hugs Ryan) Will you help me learn my
lines?

14. And so…
RYAN: “Ruth, I will be quite candid with you. You are very dear to me, as you know,
but I must be circumspect. You see, you are considerably older than I. A lad of twenty-
one usually looks for a wife of seventeen.”
RUTH: “A wife of seventeen! You will find me a wife of a thousand!”
RYAN: “No, but I shall find you a wife of forty-seven, and that is quite enough. Ruth,
tell me candidly and without reserve: compared with other women – how are you?”

15. RUTH: I will answer you truthfully, master – I have a slight cold, but otherwise I am
quite well.
“FREDERIC”: I am – Er, I am sorry to hear that, Ruth. No, wait, that’s not right.
DIRECTOR #1: “I am sorry for your cold, but I was referring to your personal
appearance.” Come on, Jace! We open in a week! Are you ever going to get this right?

16. RYAN: Wow, Ruth, you were great! I mean, I know we went over everything a million
times, but you were really good up there. And the costume is really something.
RUTH: Aw, you just like it because it’s revealing.
RYAN: Not as revealing as what you usually wear.
RUTH: Point. And you can buy me dinner for noticing.

17. RYAN: That’s all you’re having?
RUTH: What’s wrong with it?
RYAN: It’s cake.
RUTH: So? I like cake.
RYAN: But all you’re going to have is cake? That’s silly. You need real food. Here, try
some of mine.
RUTH: O – (as Ryan pops a fork full of food in her now open mouth) Mmmph! Next
time, warn me before you do something like that!
RYAN: But it’s good, right?
RUTH: Yes, it’s good. But don’t think I’m sharing my cake.

18. Sophomore year, Ruth played the Duchess of Plazatoro in The Gondoliers.
“DUKE OF PLAZATORO” (to Casilda, his daughter): I don’t know. It’s extraordinary
what unprepossessing people one can love if one gives one’s mind to it.
“DUCHESS OF PLAZATORO” (to Casilda): I loved your father.
“DUKE OF PLAZATORO” (to the Duchess): My love – that remark is a little hard, I
think? Rather cruel, perhaps? Somewhat uncalled-for, I venture to believe?
“DUCHESS OF PLAZATORO” (to Casilda): It was very difficult, my dear; but I said to
myself, “That man is a Duke, and I will love him.” Several of my relations bet me I
couldn’t, but I did – desperately!
What? It’s a very small part.

19. I just thought I’d mention that Ruth is following the rules, even though I’m pretty sure
she doesn’t have to at this point. See? Three flamingos per OWBC participant.

20. And she learned the xylophone trick on the third try.

21. Junior year: Little Buttercup in HMS Pinafore.
DIRECTOR #2: Okay, Rafe* and Josephine: “Oh bliss, oh rapture!” and then kiss
followed by Captain Corcoran and Little Buttercup: “Oh rapture, oh bliss!” and then kiss.
RUTH: It’s not scripted that they kiss, is it?
DIRECTOR #2: No, but I like the symmetry. Let’s –
“SIR JOSEPH”: Sir Joseph doesn’t have to kiss Cousin Hebe, do I? Only you’ve got
Philip playing her, and I don’t like him like that.
DIRECTOR #2: If I tell you to kiss Cousin Hebe, you will darn well kiss Cousin Hebe!
What is wrong with you people?
“CAPTAIN CORCORAN”: Listen, I really have to get to class…
DIRECTOR #2: Fine! Leave me! Get out, all of you!
*The character’s name is Ralph Rackstraw, but it’s pronounced “Rafe” because he’s British. (Americans
would say “Ralf.”) I spell it this way in my head so I’ll pronounce it correctly, and I’ve typed it this way for
my American readers, assuming I have any. It drives me up the wall when Americans talk about actor
“Ralf” Fiennes.

22. RYAN: You okay?
RUTH: Little Buttercup has to kiss Captain Corcoran.
RYAN: I thought there wasn’t any kissing.
RUTH: There is now.
RYAN: So what’s wrong with that? Does he smell? Not brush his teeth? Pick his nose in
public?
RUTH: No… I just don’t have a lot of experience in that area, you know?

24. RYAN: Did that help?
RUTH: I – You – But Lucy’s at school now! Aren’t you going to start dating her again?
RYAN: I never did date her. I asked her out, and she said I wasn’t allowed to because
you liked me.
RUTH: Because I – ? (blushes furiously)
RYAN: I didn’t get you back then. Now I do. So if you want help with kissing scenes, or
a date for Friday night, or anything really – well, you know where to find me.
RUTH: (blushes even more furiously)

25. According to the rules, Ruth needs to get a gold badge in Robotics. I realized rather late
in the game (so to speak) that I could take advantage of the perma-fall that all my
colleges have to make this go faster. Ruth is still working on Toy Robots. She wants a
Bronze Robotics Badge, and I don’t blame her. How many Toy Robots can you make
before you get bored?

26. Everybody in the dorm wants a Bronze Robotics Badge, actually, but only one person has
achieved it. (And is rapidly closing in on his Silver Badge.)
Not that this is necessarily relevant to the OWBC…

27. Senior year: Katisha in The Mikado.
“THE MIKADO”
From every kind of man
Obedience I expect;
I’m the Emperor of Japan –
“KATISHA”
And I’m his daughter-in-law elect!
He’ll marry his son
(He’s only got one)
To his daughter-in-law elect!

28. RYAN: Oh, come on. Please?
SUSPICIOUSLY UN-JAPANESE-LOOKING “GENTLEMAN OF JAPAN,” WHO
HAD TO USE THE LITTLE SAMURAI’S ROOM: Rules is rules. I can’t let you go
backstage.
RYAN: But (whispers)
SUSPICIOUSLY UN-JAPANESE-LOOKING “GENTLEMAN OF JAPAN”: Oh! Oh,
that’s different! But you have to be absolutely silent.
RYAN: I promise.

29. “KOKO” (OFF)
The flowers that bloom in the spring, tra la
Have nothing to do with the case

30. “KOKO” (OFF)
I’ve got to take under my wing, tra la,
A most unattractive old thing, tra la,

31. “KOKO” (OFF)
With a caricature of a face,
With a caricature of a face.

32. “KOKO” (OFF)
And that’s what I mean when I say or I sing,
“Oh bother the flowers that bloom in the spring!”

33. “KOKO,” “POOH-BAH,” “PITTI-SING,” “YUM-YUM,” AND “NANKI-POO” (OFF)
Tra la la la la la
Tra la la la la la
“Oh bother the flowers of spring!”

34. “KOKO,” “POOH-BAH,” “PITTI-SING,” “YUM-YUM,” AND “NANKI-POO” (OFF)
Tra la la la la la
Tra la la la la la

35. “KOKO,” “POOH-BAH,” “PITTI-SING,” “YUM-YUM,” AND “NANKI-POO” (OFF)
Tra la la la la la!
RUTH (very very softly): My cue. Don’t leave.

36. So this is how things stand: Ryan Miller, son-in-law elect, is graduating with a Silver
Robotics Badge. (His hoverbots don’t always work, but he has the option to make them.)

37. Ruth is graduating with a similarly unreliable Bronze Robotics Badge.

38. Ryan transitioned into clothes that are not so much “wacky” as “just plain
unfashionable.” This will be rectified once he moves in officially, but first he has to
spend a day at his former family home since he is technically one day older than Ruth.
College takes long enough without adding one unnecessary year, thenk yew.

39. Ruth transitioned into an outfit that isn’t wacky either. The one time I actually want a
funny-looking outfit, I get this little number. Phooey.
Wardrobe changes all around, then, plus new hairdos and makeup.
I wonder how Ryan will react when he finds out that he’s expected to wear makeup? The
answer, plus with any luck a pregnancy, coming up next time. Until then, Happy
Simming!

40. Notes, disclaimers, and other trivia
Ruth is a contralto, and contraltos tend to get the plain-older-woman roles in Gilbert &
Sullivan. I personally find the contralto roles to be more interesting and to have better
songs than the soprano roles.
To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a production of HMS Pinafore where
Cousin Hebe was played by a man, although both Katisha and the Duchess of Plaza Toro
have been.
All play dialog was written by W. S. Gilbert. The songs are all music by Sir Arthur
Sullivan, lyrics by W. S. Gilbert.