HMS Pinafore & Trial by Jury

H.M.S. Pinafore is not only a wonderful operetta with a brilliant score and hilarious plot, but it is also a historically important piece in the creative relationship of Gilbert and Sullivan and the development of musical theatre as we know it. In HMS Pinafore W.S. Gilbert satirises the snobbery and hypocrisy of the English social system of his day. The story is of love transcending social class aboard the high seas, and with its crazy cast of characters and such memorable songs as 'I'm Called Little Buttercup,' 'Never mind the Why and Wherefore,' and 'He is an Englishman,' it has been a hit since its premiere in 1878.

In addition to Pinafore,WAOS presented Gilbert and Sullivan's only one act collaboration, Trial By Jury, as a special double bill. In Trial by Jury, Gilbert spoofs the legal system as a drunken judge and incompetent jury try to settle the civil case of a breached promise of marriage. The pairing of Trial and Pinafore is a historically successful one. Because of its one-act status, Trial by Jury tends to be less frequently performed, so any occasion to perform it is truly exciting.

Together, Trial by Jury and H.M.S. Pinafore demonstrate the lyric and musical genius of both Gilbert and Sullivan and should create an unforgettable night of theatre.