H.M.S. PINAFORE is the satirical opera by Gilbert and Sullivan that pokes fun at the British social system of the day. The timeless struggle between the classes is played out in the deck of the titular ship while she is in port. This opera is one of the three most well-known of Gilbert and Sullivan's works, and like The Pirates of Penzance, the most famous tune is the baritone's patter song.
This being a Gilbert and Sullivan farce, I can only give the most basic of plot summaries.
Captain Corcoran of the H.M.S. Pinafore has arranged a marriage between his daughter Josephine and the prancing Lord of the Admiralty Sir Joseph Porter. But Josephine is in love with the lowly sailor Ralph Rackstraw, and while the crew and Sir Joseph's numerous female relatives are all in favor of the match, naturally the captain and Sir Joseph are not. Of course in the end everything is solved with a Gilbert and Sullivan plot twist.
I cannot name a single moment in this performance that was not pure gold. The whole thing from the opening chorus of sailors to the triple wedding at the end. The only complaint I do have is that the gun that Ralph tires to use on himself was given to him by the boatswain rather the obnoxious Dick Deadeye. Then again, perhaps there were other reason for it.
This is my shortest review because right now I cannot access YouTube on my machine.
