THEATER REVIEW : ‘Princess Ida’ Has Some Fun With Feminism : The Gilbert and Sullivan operetta also satirizes the theory of evolution. A strong cast and good music add to antics.

In the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta “Princess Ida,” a group of spirited young women form a university where no men are admitted. But those expecting a feminist tract should look elsewhere. The authors found the very notion of women’s self-sufficiency hilarious.

The work, which premiered in January, 1884, is a satire of two hot subjects of the day: women’s emancipation and Darwin’s theory of evolution. Playing through this weekend at Moorpark College’s Forum Theater under the direction of Marilyn Anderson, “Princess Ida” is considerable fun. And, of course, the music’s not bad.

To effect a truce between their countries, Ida (Leah Florence) and Hilarion (James Kirkland) were married when both were infants. As the play begins, 20 years have elapsed, and the two are due to set up castle-keeping together. But Ida has fled her father’s castle to set up her university, teaching (among other things) that man, being descended from apes, is an inferior species to women. The university’s rules are so strict that a hen’s crow signals daybreak and a student is expelled for bringing a set of wooden chessmen on campus.

This upsets the couple’s fathers, King Hildebrand (Arthur Freeman) and King Gama (Lloyd Allen), who will begin fighting again unless the two young people complete the marriage contract. Hilarion and two deputies, Cyril (Justin McQueen) and Florian (Harold Wheatley) set off to abduct Ida and, disguised as women, enter the university.

Will they be exposed? Will Princess Ida return to husband and throne? Will cunning Lady Blanche (Sheila M. Winters), Professor of Abstract Philosophies, realize her ambitions?

The cast assembled by Wilson gives the characters real character, and most of them are at least as capable actors as they are singers. Not mentioned above are Gama’s trio of sons, manly men all: Arac (Gabriel de la Vega), Guron (Ryan Campbell) and Scynthias (Daniel Gomes). And there’s the troupe of idealistic young women who comprise the faculty and student body of Ida’s university.

Pianist Darryl Archibald accompanies the troupe. Surely, now, Moorpark College--which has enough money to undertake construction of a new theater--can afford to purchase something a little fancier for this hard-working pianist than a creaky upright.

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DETAILS * WHAT: “Princess Ida.”

* WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.

* WHERE: Forum Theater, Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark.

* HOW MUCH: $9 general admission; $8 staff, students and seniors; $6, children under 12.

* CALL: 378-1438 or 378-1453 for reservations or information.