Commentary on exactly where equality does and does not belong in society. Who exactly should be considered respectable? What are the repercussions for removing ranks in society?
This and more answered all in Gilbert and Sullivan's signature topsy-turvy, tongue-in-cheek style.
And Anthony Warlow... in a phantom cape. It's got that too.
Ralph and Josephine are in love. Yay! Josephine is the daughter of Captain Corcoran, commander of the British warship the H.M.S. Pinafore. That's great! Ralph, on the other hand, is a low-class seaman, working on the British warship the H.M.S. Pinafore. Not so great. Even worse, dear old dad, Captain Corcoran, is working very, very, hard to pair Josephine with Sir Joseph Porter (K.C.B.). Sir Joseph meanwhile, on board to seal the deal, decides to use his power over the navy to make some modern "improvements" to the way things are run on the Pinafore. To some very unexpected, and perhaps undesirable, effect.
Will Sir Joseph's equality measures backfire?
What is the Portsmouth bumboat woman, "Little Buttercup's" secret?
And why is Anthony Warlow in a phantom cape?!?
Well I can't say! You wouldn't want me to spoil it, would you?
One of the really marvelous aspects of Gilbert and Sullivan's operas is how they can somehow manage, even with the topsy-turvy, delightfully satirical silliness, to elicit some very complex thinking towards the current political and sociological topics of their time. This opera on social equality, professional and societal rank, and management by unqualified paper-pushing superiors, like many of their other operas, very nicely advocates a generally more thoughtful consideration of such things. All wrapped up in Sullivan's swooping music, Gilbert's rapier-sharp vocabulary and satirical wit, and tied off with a bow (if. you. please).
Opera Australia knows where it's at, bro.
And you'll just have to see how that goes.
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