3½ stars. I read this on my Kindle as part of [b:The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan|9245523|The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan|W.S. Gilbert|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412620136s/9245523.jpg|1309844] while watching the video on YouTube.

Another fun outing with Gilbert & Sullivan. The production of this operetta I watched unfortunately had been more modified from the original than any of the others I have seen so far, which made reading along difficult. Some numbers (including one I thought hilarious) were omitted entirely, one was moved from the first act to the second (!?!), and a few were abridged. Ah well, the perils of the public domain...

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Presented in 1896, this is the last of the famous collaborations. The principal plot centres on a plot to replace the ruler of a petty German state with the actors of a travelling theatre troop. Of course, the princling is engaged to be married to an even more minor princess who is about to show up, unannounced just as her engagement terms are about to expire. The prince however wishes to be free to marry a closer, and more prosperous minor royal. Hilarity, or at least Gilbertian comedy ensues. ( )