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Trial By Gilbert & Sullivan, Bournemouth Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society, Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne

TRIAL By Jury, less than half an hour in length, does not constitute a full evening’s entertainment so at this delightful concert we were also treated to a Victorian Melodrama, Lord Peter’s Dilemma.

Whilst it was hardly a melodrama, the story of a family preparing to go out to see a performance of Trial in which the two elder daughters were to take part, with a sub-plot in which the eldest son is in love with the family skivvy, was an ingenious idea – by writer & director Penny Crichton-Seager - that worked a treat. With boozy Aunt Agatha (a well-disguised Jean Hancock) to play piano for them, plus a scene-stealing old retainer, Crichton (Patrick D’Ardenne), the family sang their party pieces – and here I must mention 12 year old Megan Knight, whose lovely performance of The Sun Whose Rays showed that she is definitely following in the footsteps of her real-life grandmother, former principal soprano Gillian Vincent.

Trial By Jury was an absolute joy from the moment when the Scots-accented Learned Judge (Bruce Vyner) weaved his way through the auditorium wearing an old mackintosh and clutching a carrier bag. With an excellent female Counsel for the Plaintiff (Charlotte Deverill), a superb Defendant (Pete Warbis) a lively group of jurymen and a raucous public gallery, it was hugely funny and beautifully performed.

The company is at the Regent Centre on Thursday and the Barrington on Saturday – I’d recommend a visit.
 
Linda Kirkman

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