Our Repertoire
Gilbert and Sullivan collaborated on 14 operas in the 25 year period from 1871 to 1896. These fourteen operettas constitute the most frequently performed series of operas in history. We perform the twelve operettas from Trial by Jury to Utopia, Ltd. We do not perform Thespis or The Grand Duke. Our rotation varies, but we do try to perform the Big Three (H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Mikado) at least once every four years. The other operettas are performed with varying frequency, but the time between performances is never longer than ten years.
Short Synopses
Trial by Jury: Hijinks in a courtroom, as the "bride" sues for breach of promise. The only one act Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, it is usually played along with another operetta.
The Sorcerer: With the help of a love philter, everyone in the village is in love—with the wrong person.
H.M.S. Pinafore, or The Lass That Loved a Sailor: The captain's daughter and a common sailor on his ship fall in love. The first smash hit G&S operetta, and one of the Big Three today.
The Pirates of Penzance, or The Slave of Duty: A young pirate just out of his "indentures" in love with Mabel, Major General Stanley's ward, while the rest of the pirate crew want to marry the general's other wards. Also one of the Big Three G&S operettas.
Patience, or Bunthorne's Bride: The county dames are in love with two poets while the poets are both in love with Patience, the village milkmaid. The brigade men don't see the point to aesthetics, but decide they had better give it a try to win the women's love.
Iolanthe, or The Peer and the Peri: Strephon, an Arcadian shepherd, wants to marry Phyllis, a ward in chancery. Strephon, however, is half fairy— down to the waist. His mother, Iolanthe, pleads his cause. Iolanthe has a very well known overture, and beautiful music throughout.
Princess Ida, or Castle Adamant: Princess Ida decides that men are little more than monkeys in suits, so retreats to Castle Adamant to run a women's college. The men first infiltrate, then invade, the castle. The only three act G&S operetta.
The Mikado, or The Town of Titipu: Opera Japanese. Ko-Ko, a cheap tailor, becomes the Lord High Executioner for Titipu, while Pooh-Bah is Lord High Everything Else. Nanki-Poo, the Mikado's son, wants to marry Yum-Yum, Ko-Ko's ward. The situation gets complicated when Ko-Ko executes Nanki-Poo. The most popular G&S Opera, and perhaps the most popular opera ever.
Ruddigore, or The Witch's Curse: None of the village girls stand a chance at marriage because all the village lads love Rose Maybud, but are too shy to court her Robin Oakapple also loves Rose, but when he becomes the wicked Baronet of Ruddigore, however, he must commit one major crime a day or die in agony. The ghosts of his ancestors step from their picture frames to confront him for not conscientiously carrying out this duty.
The Yeomen of the Guard: Colonel Fairfax, sentenced to die in an hour on a false charge of sorcery, marries Elsie Maynard, a strolling singer. But then he escapes, causing complications. At the end Elsie's boyfriend, Jack Point, dies of a broken heart. Or does he? The nearest that G&S came to grand opera.
The Gondoliers, or The King of Barataria: One of two just-married gondoliers is the King of Barataria, but no one knows which one. As Barataria needs a king to put down unrest in the country, they travel there to reign jointly, leaving their wives behind. A fine romp, with lots of bright music and dancing.
Utopia, Limited, or The Flowers of Progress: Having a rather idealistic view of England and the English people, King Paramount of the south sea island of Utopia decides that his people should adopt all English customs and fashions, and that the kingdom should become a "company limited."