MOSCOW, ID — The University of Idaho’s Lionel Hampton School of Music will present the classic comic opera H.M.S. Pinafore this weekend at the Hartung Theater.
Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6, and 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the theater, 625 Stadium Drive. The production features the school’s orchestra in collaboration with the university’s Department of Theatre Arts.
Written by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, H.M.S. Pinafore, also known as “The Lass That Loved a Sailor,” is set aboard a British Royal Navy ship in the late 19th century. The story follows Josephine, the captain’s daughter, who falls in love with a lower-class sailor. The satirical comedy explores themes of social rank and class divisions while poking fun at the fading British Empire through exaggerated characters and humor.
Stefan Gordon, assistant professor of voice and director of the U of I production, said the themes of power and equality remain relevant for modern audiences.
“These ideas of rank and title may seem distant to a modern American audience, yet parallels are easy to spot,” Gordon said. “We hear declarations of equality yet observe that those with power or wealth are often considered ‘more equal than others,’ openly skirting laws and using their power to rob and exploit the weak.”
Gordon added that while the show critiques aspects of 19th-century British society, it remains a lighthearted celebration of traditional British music.
Tickets are $10 for students, seniors and children 12 and younger, and $12 for general admission. They may be purchased at uitickets.com or at the door. Card payment is accepted at the venue.
