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'Orpheus in the Underworld'

Opens Friday: The source of the famous cancan theme, Jacques Offenbach's 1858 operetta is a satiric retelling of the Orpheus legend featuring infidelity, abductions, orgies and general misunderstandings. After its production in London in 1865, it became the inspiration for Gilbert and Sullivan to create English operettas in the same mold. Fitting, then, that this "Orpheus" is staged by the Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company in a rare autumn production, directed by Lesley Hendrickson with musical direction by Marina Liadova. (Preview 7:30 p.m. Thu.; 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 2 p.m. Sun. $12-$22. Ends Nov. 19. Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, 1900 Nicollet Av., Mpls. 651-255-6947, gsvloc.org.)

CYNTHIA DICKISON