In
April 2004 The Village Singers produced a low budget 'stage' version of Trial By Jury in
the local Methodist Church, as the second part of their Heavens Above
charity concert. The whole concert was very well received, but the Church may never be the same
again!
The
Village Singers concert comprised a complete (described as imaginative and lively) production of Gilbert & Sullivan's Trial
by Jury. The show was also requested and repeated in Market Town.
Click
photos below to enlarge, then . . .
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Photographs © by David Collins
"Now
Jurymen take my advice" Kenneth in full flow as The Usher in The Village Trial
by Jury, to an unruly Jury of basses
and tenors (or is that a lady or two we see among them? Ah! well, Arthur and
William were seldom averse to moving with the times! Calling the Jury to order
was a major problem throughout the show!
A
scene from Trial by Jury. The
Defendant (Keith), singing Tink a tank, tink a tank . . .; with his Moll
(sorry, new girlfriend) (Heather), accompanying him on guitar. Whilst
disinterested Jury members read their papers! But the two Court Cleaners (Sue
& Barbara) are discussing the young man's merits!
The
Jilted Bride (Georgina),
sings "O'er the season
vernal, Time may cast a shade!" She and four
of her Bridesmaids & Matrons of Honour (Pat, Di, Val and Betty) are gawped at
with interest by the Jury (well some of the Jury!), and the Learned Judge (Trevor).
(With binoculars?!!)
The
Bride and Bridesmaids doing their best to present their case to an ogling
jury, (with Andrea now in picture) and a rather serious Clerk to the Court
(Nick).
Our
intrepid Defendant (Keith in full song) comes back with the mantra Oh,
Gentlemen, Listen I Pray, Though I Own that my Heart has been Ranging'.
Which gives you a flavour of his character. The Jury once again giving him scant
attention!
The
'public gallery'; the ladies in their finery, at The Trial. Who's that
gentleman with them? Can it be Alistair who played the part of the burglar? Or
was he the official photographer? Obviously a man of many parts!
'A Nice Dilemma we have
here, that calls for all our wit . . .' This photo shows , the Learned Judge playing
the Defendant's guitar! And Nick, the Court Associate, (our Church Warden
really) playing the viola he made himself. The two triangles are 'played'
by Kenneth, The Usher; and Clive, the Jury Foreman. Quite a little band! Are they commiserating with
the
'broken hearted Bride' ? Or are they all just having fun?
Well, a bit of each really.
'Stand
by for Curtain Call'. The cast of Trial by Jury is called back one more time as
the Rector (standing in for the Methodist Minister - who had to leave for another
appointment) prepares to deliver a Vote of Thanks.
And
All Attention Lend . . . The Rector, thanked
the Methodist Church for hosting the concerts, and complimented the Village Singers on their splendid performance and work for charity. The photo shows
Bella receiving a special thank-you for all her hard work directing and playing
the music. The two cleaners: Sue and Barbara, are waiting to clear us all out!!!
Now what about
visiting a: Love-sick
Boy . . .?
