For the 2026 season, the Methuen Young People’s Theatre will perform a musical that intertwines satirical comedy, wonderful music, themes of love and vanity, and the superficiality of artistic fads – all in one show!
This is Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Patience,” in which village maidens become enamored of one rock-star poet and then another rock-star poet while other suitors struggle to understand their appeal. The well-born young ladies in the village, rapturously caught up in aestheticism, are in love with two contrasting poets — a “fleshy” poet and an “idyllic” poet. But the poets are both in love with Patience, the simple village milkmaid, who cares nothing for poetry! Patience learns that true love must be completely unselfish and must wither and sting and burn. The girls’ military suitors see no point in aesthetics, but they decide to give it a try to win the women’s hearts. It is touch-and-go for a while, but everyone ends up with a suitable partner, even if it is only a tulip or a lily!
Performances are Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7pm and Sunday, Sept. 13 at 3pm. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12. All performances will be at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall at 192 Broadway (Route 28).
