Trial by jury
Encyclopedia : T : TR : TRI : Trial by jury
- This article is about the comic opera. For the legal institution, see jury trial. For the TV drama series, see .
Impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte, then a manager at the Royalty Theatre, suggested that Gilbert and Sullivan collaborate on a short opera to be played as an afterpiece to Offenbach's La Périchole. It had been four years since Gilbert and Sullivan had worked together on Thespis (an entertainment for the 1871 holiday season), and each had become even more eminent in his field during those years. The witty, tuneful and "English" piece was an immediate hit with Londoners, and its success launched the series that came to be known as the Savoy Operas, named for the theatre that Carte later built for them.
Trial is the only Gilbert and Sullivan opera played in one act, and the only one with no spoken dialogue. As it is only about 30 minutes long, it is usually coupled with another work — often one of the shorter two-act Savoy Operas, such as The Sorcerer or H.M.S. Pinafore, or presented as a triple bill with Cox and Box and The Zoo. As with all the G&S operas, the plot of Trial is ludicrous, but by behaving as if everything were perfectly reasonable, the characters in this satire of the legal system (a favorite target of Gilbert's, who had a brief legal career) reveal truths about common foibles and follies of men, women and society at large.
Production history
After the premiere of Trial by Jury in 1875, operetta companies in London and in the provinces picked it up rapidly, usually playing it as a forepiece or an afterpiece to French operettas. The first American productions were at the Arch Street Theatre in Philadelphia on October 22 1875, and the Eagle Theatre in New York on November 15 1875.After Gilbert and Sullivan became established with Richard D'Oyly Carte, Trial was usually played as a companion piece to The Sorcerer or H.M.S. Pinafore. From 1894, the year when the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company established a year-long touring company that had most of the Gilbert and Sullivan works in its repertory, Trial was always included, except for 1901–1904, and then again from 1943–46, when the company played a reduced repertory during World War II. It was eliminated in 1976, as a cost-saving measure.
The following table summarises the main London productions of Trial by Jury during Gilbert's and Sullivan's lifetimes:
| Theatre | Opening Date | Closing Date | Perfs. | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Theatre | March 25 1875 | June 11 1875 | 131 | This company also played matinées at the Gaiety Theatre on 10, 17, and 24 April 1875. From June 12 – October 10, the company took Trial and other operas on a provincial tour. |
| October 11 1875 | December 18 1875 | |||
| Opera Comique | January 14 1876 | May 5 1876 | 96 | Trial was not performed from March 13–18 due to the illness of Fred Sullivan. After May 5, the company went on tour through October 28, with Fred Sullivan remaining in the show as the Judge most of the time. |
| Strand Theatre | March 3 1877 | May 26 1877 | 73 | Played with various operettas under the management of Mrs. Swanborough. This company then toured the provinces through July 28. |
| Opera Comique | March 23 1878 | May 24 1878 | 56 | Played as an afterpiece to The Sorcerer |
| Savoy Theatre | October 11 1884 | March 12 1885 | 150 | Played as a forepiece to The Sorcerer |
| Savoy Theatre | September 22 1898 | December 31 1898 | 102 | Played as a forepiece to The Sorcerer |
| Savoy Theatre | June 6 1899 | November 25 1899 | 174 | Played as a forepiece to H.M.S. Pinafore |
Roles
- The Learned Judge (comic baritone)
- The Plaintiff (soprano)
- The Defendant (tenor)
- Counsel for the Plainiff (high baritone)
- Usher (bass-baritone)
- Foreman of the Jury (bass)
- Associate (silent)
- First Bridesmaid
- Chorus of Bridesmaids, Gentlemen of the Jury, Barristers, Attorneys and Public.
Synopsis
The curtain rises on the Court of the Exchequer, where a jury and the public assemble to hear a case of breach of promise of marriage ("Hark, the Hour of Ten is Sounding"). It soon becomes clear that the jurymen's sympathies are with the plaintiff, Angelina. They greet the defendant, Edwin, with hostility. He tries to persuade them that his position is reasonable ("When First my Old, Old Love I Knew"), but as they are respectable gentlemen, they refuse to make any allowances for the fickleness of youth ("Oh, I was Like That When a Lad").The Judge enters with great pomp ("All Hail, Great Judge"), and starts the proceedings by describing how he rose to his position ("When I, Good Friends, was Called to the Bar"). Preliminaries dispensed with, the jury is sworn in and the plaintiff summoned into court: she arrives in full wedding dress, accompanied by all her bridesmaids ("Comes the Broken Flower"), and instantly captures the heart of both the jury and the Judge. Counsel for the plaintiff makes a moving speech detailing Edwin's betrayal ("With a Sense of Deep Emotion"). Angelina sobs, first in the arms of the foreman of the jury, and then the Judge.
Edwin suggests that he will marry both women ("Oh Gentlemen, Listen, I Pray"), but the counsel points out that this would be "burglaree". Perplexed, everyone in court ponders the difficulty of the situation ("A Nice Dilemma We Have Here"). Angelina says that she still loves Edwin, and deplores the loss of his love ("I love him, I love him"), and so substantial damages should be awarded to her. But Edwin says that he is a smoker, a drunkard, and a bully, and that she would surely have been unhappy with him, and so the damages should be small. The Judge suggests making Edwin tipsy to see if he would really "thrash and kick" the plaintiff, but everyone except Edwin objects. Impatient at the lack of progess, the Judge resolves the case by proposing to marry Angelina himself. This is quite satisfactory, and the opera is concluded "With Joy Unbounded".
Musical Numbers
- 1. "Hark, the hour of ten is sounding" (Usher and Chorus)
- 1a. "Is this the Court of the Exchequer?" (Defendant)
- 2. "When first my old, old love I knew" (Defendant and Chorus)
- 3. "All hail great Judge!" (Chorus and Judge)
- 4. "When I, good friends, was call'd to the Bar" (Judge)
- 5. "Swear thou the Jury" (Counsel)
- 6. "Where is the Plaintiff?" (Chorus of Bridesmaids)
- 7. "Oh, never, never, never, since I join' the human race"
- 8. "May it please you, my lud!" (Counsel for Plaintiff)
- 9. "That she is reeling is plain to see!"
- 10. "Oh, gentlemen, listen, I pray" (Defendant)
- 11. "That seems a reasonable proposition"
- 12. "A nice dilemma we have here" (Plaintiff, Defendant, Counsel, Judge, Usher, Foreman and Chorus)
- 13. "I love him, I love him, with fervour unceasing" (Plaintiff, Defendant and Chorus)
- 14. "Oh, joy unbounded, with wealth surrounded" (Ensemble)
Historical casting
The following tables show the casts of the principal original productions and D'Oyly Carte Opera Company touring repertory at various times through to the 1975 centenary season:
| Role | Royalty Theatre 1875 | Opera Comique 1878 | Savoy Theatre 1884 | Savoy Theatre 1898 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judge | Frederic Sullivan | George Grossmith | Rutland Barrington | Henry Lytton |
| Counsel | J. Hollinsworth | Rutland Barrington | Eric Lewis | Jones Hewson |
| Defendant | Walter H. Fisher | George Power | Durward Lely | Cory James |
| Foreman | Charles Kelleher | F. Talbot | Arthur Kennett | Leonard Russell |
| Usher | B. R. Pepper | Fred Clifton | William Lugg | Walter Passmore |
| Associate | J. Wilbraham | Charles Childerstone | ||
| Plaintiff | Nelly Bromley | Lisa Walton | Florence Dysart | Isabel Jay |
| 1st Bridesmaid | Linda Verner | Sybil Grey | Mildred Baker |
| Role | D'Oyly Carte 1905 Tour | D'Oyly Carte 1915 Tour | D'Oyly Carte 1925 Tour | D'Oyly Carte 1935 Tour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judge | Charles H. Workman | Leo Sheffield | Leo Sheffield | Sydney Granville |
| Counsel | Albert Kavanagh | Frederick Hobbs | Henry Millidge | Leslie Rands |
| Defendant | Strafford Moss | Dewey Gibson | Sidney Pointer | Robert Wilson |
| Foreman | Reginald White | Frank Steward | T. Penry Hughes | T. Penry Hughes |
| Usher | J. Lewis Campion | George Sinclair | Joseph Griffin | Richard Walker |
| Associate | Allen Morris | Martyn Green | C. William Morgan | |
| Plaintiff | Bessie Mackenzie | Marjorie Gordon | Eleanor Evans | Ann Drummond-Grant |
| 1st Bridesmaid | Mabel Burnege | Ethel Armit | Beatrice Elburn | Nancy Ray |
| Role | D'Oyly Carte 1949 Tour | D'Oyly Carte 1955 Tour | D'Oyly Carte 1965 Tour | D'Oyly Carte 1975 Tour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judge | Richard Watson | John Reed | Jeffrey Skitch | Jon Ellison |
| Counsel | Alan Styler | Alan Styler | Alan Styler | Gareth Jones |
| Defendant | Leonard Osborn | John Fryatt | Philip Potter | Barry Clark |
| Foreman | Donald Harris | Jack Habbick | Anthony Raffell | James Conroy-Ward |
| Usher | L. Radley Flynn | George Cook | George Cook | Paul Waite |
| Associate | C. William Morgan | Keith Bonnington | Howard Williamson | William Palmerley |
| Plaintiff | Enid Walsh | Kathleen West | Jennifer Toye | Glynis Prendergast |
| 1st Bridesmaid | Joyce Wright | Margaret Dobson | Pauline Wales | Patricia Anne Bennett |
Benefit performances
Starting in 1877, Trial by Jury was often given at benefit performances, usually for an actor or actress who had fallen on hard times, but occasionally for other causes. These were glittering affairs, with various celebrities appearing in principal roles or as part of the chorus. W. S. Gilbert himself played the silent role of the Associate on at least four occasions. Arthur Sullivan conducted the 1877 benefit for actor Henry Compton. The Ellen Terry benefit in 1906 was a particularly well attended affair, with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle numbered among the jury. Burgess (1997, pp. 56–61) reproduces the programmes for several of these benefits in facsimile. Others are listed in Gänzl (1986, pp. 95–98).
| Role | Henry Compton Drury Lane March 1 1877 | Amy Roselle Lyceum June 16 1887 | Rutland Barrington Savoy May 28 1889 | Nellie Farren Drury Lane March 17 1898 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judge | George Honey | Rutland Barrington | Rutland Barrington | Rutland Barrington |
| Counsel | George Fox | Richard Temple | Alec Marsh | Eric Lewis |
| Defendant | W. H. Cummings | Henry Bracy | Courtice Pounds | Courtice Pounds |
| Foreman | Mr. Burbank | Henry Lytton | ||
| Usher | Arthur Cecil | R. Lewis | William Lugg | Walter Passmore |
| Associate | W. S. Gilbert | W. S. Gilbert | ||
| Plaintiff | Pauline Rita | Geraldine Ulmar | Lottie Venne | Florence Perry |
| Role | Disabled Soldiers Drury Lane May 15 1900 | Mr. Ringold Lyric Theatre December 5 1902 | Ellen Terry Drury Lane June 12 1906 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judge | Rutland Barrington | Rutland Barrington | Rutland Barrington |
| Counsel | Eric Lewis | C. Hayden Coffin | Henry Lytton |
| Defendant | Courtice Pounds | Courtice Pounds | Courtice Pounds |
| Foreman | W. H. Denny | Fred Kaye | Robert Marshall |
| Usher | Walter Passmore | George Grossmith Jr. | Walter Passmore |
| Associate | W. S. Gilbert | Lionel Monckton | W. S. Gilbert |
| Plaintiff | Florence St. John | Evie Greene | Ruth Vincent |
References
- Also, five supplements, privately printed.
External links
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