H.M.S. Pinafore; Or, The Lass That Loved A Sailor

H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor is a comic opera written by W. S. Gilbert with music by Arthur Sullivan, first performed on May 25, 1878. The story follows Captain Corcoran's daughter, Josephine, who loves a lower-class sailor, Ralph Rackstraw, despite her father's plans for her to marry Sir Joseph Porter. This work humorously critiques the British class system and patriotism, and it was the first international success for Gilbert and Sullivan, influencing the development of modern musical theatre. The opera ran for 571 performances, making it one of the longest-running musicals of its time.