Theater Preview: H.M.S. Pinafore at the Henrico Theatre

by | Mar 4, 2013 | ART

H.M.S. Pinafore, one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most famous operettas, is set to sail for Henrico Theatre on March 8-9.


H.M.S. Pinafore, one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most famous operettas, is set to sail for Henrico Theatre on March 8-9.

The story takes place on a British ship H.M.S. Pinafore. The captain’s daughter, Josephine, hopelessly falls in love with a lowly sailor. Separated by class and her father’s disapproval, Josephine and her beloved Ralph Rackstraw can never be together despite their declaration of love. The plot thickens when the more sophisticated Sir Joseph Porter, an admiral of the Royal Navy, enters the picture to woo and marry the young Josephine.

This classic maritime musical is brought to you by Capitol Opera Richmond, which was recently started this year to provide a performing venue for local talent.

“The whole point of the company is to give amazing voices in our town the opportunity to perform in a place where they wouldn’t have been able to perform before,” said Sarah Kate Walston, who is making her directorial debut with H.M.S. Pinafore.

With clever melodies, beautiful scenery, and straight-up silliness, this classic story of forbidden love is pure entertainment and joy for all ages.

“It’s going to be hilarious…definitely appropriate for all audiences. There’s nothing in it that would be controversial,” said Walston. “It’s not everyday that you get to see live music, with a cast of about 26 members, an orchestra, in a gorgeous theatre, with costumes, fully stage – all of that and the most expensive ticket is 12 dollars.”

“Expect beautiful voices,” Walston added. “It will be a chance for people to come and see local talent they didn’t even realize was here.”

Tickets are $12, $10 for seniors 55 and older, and $8 for students and children at www.capopera.com

Henrico Theatre at 305 East Nine Mile Road
Fri., March 8 at 7:30 PM
Sat., March 9 at 7:30 PM

(originally appeared at gayrva.com)

Marilyn Drew Necci

Marilyn Drew Necci

Former GayRVA editor-in-chief, RVA Magazine editor for print and web. Anxiety expert, proud trans woman, happily married.




more in art

Can Firehouse Put Richmond on the National Theatre Map?

In the electric and perpetually sincere terrain of Richmond’s theatre culture, there are institutions that do more than merely reside, they lead. They serve as a measure of our city's potential beyond its natural aspirations. I've witnessed Firehouse Theatre inhabit...

Photos | Warriors in Bloom at Agecroft Hall

For one weekend, Agecroft Hall stopped being a museum and became a kingdom.  What began as a fundraiser to help launch Richmond's first Renaissance Faire has grown into a destination of its own. Warriors in Bloom, created by the folks at Virago Alley, returned with...

Everything We Did Was A Bad Idea

Editor's Note: Writer's Block is a space for Virginia writers to share personal essays, fiction, memoir, and works that fall somewhere in between. We’re standing on some corner in downtown Richmond: me, my two friends, a pair of women, and their male friend we had met...

Review | SAFETY! Swings Big But Falls Just Short

WARNING: This review contains baseball metaphors.  Cadence Theatre’s Pipeline New Works Program is at the plate again, with its last batter, Witchduck, staring at home from third base. It is literally the first swing ever for the new musical, SAFETY!, at Firehouse...

Before Anyone Was Watching

I went to Virginia MOCA expecting to hear Andy Howell talk about skateboarding. Instead, I left thinking about community and how people find each other. Howell's installation opens Seamless, the museum's new exhibition exploring the overlap between art and design. At...

The Strange Afterlife of Virginia’s President Heads

Editor's Note: Reminder, the sculptures are located on private property and are not open for general visitation. Access is available only through scheduled guided tours, with Labor Day weekend currently expected to be the final tour on the calendar. Tour information...

Topics: