From 1877 to 1894, except for a foray into the business of theatrical management in 1888–89, Barrington remained with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, creating comic lyric baritone roles in all of Gilbert and Sullivan's new operas with the exception of "The Yeomen of the Guard" (1888). In 1878, he created the role of Lord Chamberlain in Albery's and Cellier's curtain raiser, "The Spectre Knight", played the Counsel for the Plaintiff in the revival of "Trial by Jury", and created the role of Captain Corcoran in Gilbert and Sullivan's first smash hit, "H.M.S. Pinafore". Barrington was a big man, which led to one of Gilbert's famous quips in a rehearsal for "Pinafore". Gilbert asked Barrington to sit "pensively" on one of the ship's skylights. Barrington lowered himself into position, and the hastily sewn set piece collapsed under his weight. Gilbert remarked, "No, that's "ex"-pensively."