Ride a wave of music and laughter as romantic sailors, sisters, cousins, and aunts sing and dance their way across the deck of the fanciful British naval vessel with the improbable name. The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players return to Columbus for another romp through the gentle satire and memorable signature tunes.

Set directly on the ship’s deck, this energetic production of H.M.S. Pinafore offers the rich sounds of a full orchestra, chorus, and soloists who seamlessly merge the classic elegance of the musical with a contemporary sense of humor to keep the show alive and exciting for a modern audience.

CAPA presents the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players in H.M.S. Pinafore at the Southern Theatre (21 E. Main St.) on Friday, April 19, at 8 p.m and Saturday, April 20, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $67.50, $57.50, $37.50 and $27.50 at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone,  call 614-431-3600 or 614-469-0939.

H.M.S. Pinafore marks the start of the Gilbert and Sullivan hit parade and the beginning of musical theatre as its known today. On board the H.M.S. Pinafore, lowly sailor Ralph Rackstraw has fallen in love with Josephine, daughter of the repressed, but ever polite Captain Corcoran, whose social climbing ambitions have caused him to promise Josephine in marriage to the insufferable Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B, First Lord of the Admiralty.

While the crew and Sir Joseph's groupies, referred to as "his sisters and his cousins and his aunts" dance their way across the deck, Josephine promises not to follow her heart in returning Ralph's affection and the Captain reveals his own attraction to the lowly peddler woman, Little Buttercup, who hints that "things are seldom what they seem." Sir Joseph senses Josephine's coolness to his advances, but is convinced by the Captain to make another effort in the boisterous Bell Trio.

In a deliberately absurd twist of fate, Little Buttercup reveals that Ralph and the Captain were switched at birth, thereby allowing both Corcorans to marry the objects of their affections, within their own social classes. Sir Joseph is resigned to marrying his most devoted groupie, Cousin Hebe.

For more information, visit www.capa.com.