91����

While their counterparts in New England  were wandering a magical forest last Friday night, the students of 91����, California, were courting by the seaside in a remarkable production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore.

Faithful to the dramatists’ reputation for catchy melodies, lyrical wordplay, and preposterous plots, HMS Pinafore tells the story of the star-crossed love of humble Ralph and the beautiful Josephine, played by Patrick Murphy (’25) and Rose Grimm (’26), respectively. Directing the performance was Dan Grimm (’76), choral director for the California campus, with the indispensable assistance of Susana Sedler (’24).

From the first plucky bars of the overture, played by an orchestra of students as well as alumni, the show was off to a good start. The antics of both the main cast and of the chorus of sailors, sisters, cousins, and aunts left the audience in stitches — and the performers with broad smiles of satisfaction at a job well done.