H.M.S. Pinafore

H.M.S. Pinafore, or “The Lass That Loved A Sailor,” is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy Operas, and the first big hit by Gilbert and Sullivan. H.M.S. Pinafore was Gilbert and Sullivan’s fourth operatic collaboration.

The plot revolves around a naval captain’s daughter who is in love with a lower-class foremast hand (a common sailor, well below officer rank), even though her father intends her to marry the First Lord of the Admiralty, the cabinet minister in charge of the Royal Navy. As with most of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, a surprise twist changes everything dramatically near the end of the story.

Mary Moebius is a Life Member of Aurora Players, as a result of her over 20 years experience and contributions while working with this wonderful organization! Favorite Aurora Players’ roles include Marian the librarian in The Music Man, Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, and Lizzie Curry in 110 in the Shade, for all of which she garnered AP Lead Actress awards. Other AP productions include Our Town, Man of LaMancha, The Mikado, Dangerous Liaisons and All My Sons. She directed AP productions of The Dining Room, Same Old Moon and Me and My Girl.

Mary is a member of Ujima Theatre Company and has appeared in many shows in the Buffalo Theatre District, including Once on This Island and Marvin’s Room with Ujima, Lovers and Private Lives with Irish Classical Theater Company, and Baby, Diva by Diva and Hats! with O’Connell and Company.

Nancy Seel, music director of this fall’s production is a retired school teacher from West Seneca, has previously served in that capacity for previous AP musicals including Guys and Dolls, The Mikado, Funny Girl, 110 In the Shade and Fiddler On The Roof. She has appeared in numerous AP shows, including Same Old Moon, Nunsense, and A Little Night Music. Nancy has also lectured on on Gilbert & Sullivan, operas, and musical theatre at Chautauqua Institution.