Trial by Jury

This version of Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial By Jury is one of a series produced by the same people. It's a good introduction to the work for anyone who wants to see it in performance.

Because this is only a one-act operetta, however, the producers have padded it out with an extra "opening sequence," and additional silent roles are used to extend the work a little. The DVD also contained Sullivan's "Cox and Box," which I have not viewed.

I felt that some parts were played differently than I had imagined them as I listened to my CD version. The Learned Judge does a kind of Rex Harrison speak-singing thing which works with the character well enough. And I thought there should have been a more spirited exchange between Angelina and the Defendant when she sings, "I love him, I love him, with fervour unceasing." The addition of Miss Ann Other (a silent role, not contemplated by W.S. Gilbert) and of a Skivvy or cleaning woman (ditto ditto), were surprising but worked out okay.

Let it be said at once that Frankie Howerd is no singer. He can't sing for toffee and in the warbling department he is way outclassed not only by the rest of the principals but by the humblest member of the chorus. Nonetheless, he gives Gilbert's witty lyrics a mighty good try and more than makes up for his lack of vocalizing prowess by his inspired buffoonery. I know G&S purists will object to Howerd's amusing ad libs, but I think Gilbert would be pleased by the way Howerd and director Wendy Toye have turned his chucklesome, satirical libretto into riotous, glorious farce. Admittedly, Howard's interpolations undermine one of the play's claims to fame, namely that it contains no dialogue. But I thought this a very small price to pay for the added amusement Howerd's interruptions supply.

Purist's of course will also dislike the way the play has been expanded, even though the music for this interlude was composed by Sullivan himself.

However, I brush these objections aside. I thought this production a perfect adaptation of the play. It is blessed with some fantastic singers. With the exception of Mr Howerd, not a dud among the lot of them. I will refrain from handing out laurels, though I must applaud Mr Davies and Miss Flowers who both do such wonderful work under the expert tutelage of Wendy Toye (who has also staged the action with such power and panache, that even a few awkward choices of camera set-ups by Mr Bailey don't matter a fig).

The lighting, costumes and production values are all most attractive.

In all, one of the very best G&S pieces available in 2007.

By all means it is not perfect, but at least it's better than HMS Pinafore, Pirates of Penzanze and Yeomen(as D'Oyly Carte productions that is). Some may object to the padding this performance has, with an extra opening sequence and the addition of silent characters, but I didn't find that a problem. Tom McDonnell is perhaps too over-emphatic as the Counsel, and although Frankie Howerd is much better than he was in HMS Pinafore with some clever and funny little moments like in A Nice Dilemma, despite the fact he tries to sing the notes rather than talk through them like in HMS Pinafore that can't make up for me that he wasn't up to the part vocally. Descrepancies aside, it is a very handsomely mounted production, with some of the better video directing of any G&S production of the D'Oyly Carte series and the sound is good. The music is wonderful, and performed with style by the orchestra and conducted with crisp efficiency. The chorus are well-balanced and don't resort to mugging or static posing like they have in the past. The staging is fine and isn't too bogged down by the additions, and the dialogue is very clever and wittily delivered. Of the rest of the cast, Ryland Davies proves to be luxury casting as Edwin, and Kate Flowers sings Angelina absolutely beautifully. Roger Bryson is an Usher of great sonority, and as the Former of the Jury Brian Donlon makes much of little(role-wise) in comparison. All in all, I found myself really enjoying this Trial By Jury. 8/10 Bethany Cox