Trial by Jury
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- This article is about the comic opera. For the legal institution, see jury trial.
- For the TV drama series, see Law & Order: Trial by Jury.
Trial by Jury is a comic opera in one act, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered on March 25 1875 in London at the Royalty Theatre, where it ran for 131 performances.
It was impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte who suggested that Gilbert and Sullivan collaborate on Trial, and the work's success launched the series that came to be known as the Savoy Operas, named for the theatre that was built for them.
Trial is the only Gilbert and Sullivan opera in one act. 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.
Contents |
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 assembles 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 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 ("I love him, I love him"), but Edwin says that he is a drunkard, and that she would surely be unhappy with him. The Judge suggests making Edwin tipsy to see if this is true, 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)