Trial by Jury was the second collaboration combining the skills of librettist W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan. It was the first they wrote for the entrepreneur Richard D'Oyly Carte. First produced on 25 March 1975 at the Royalty Theatre, London, Trial by Jury is the only single act operetta written by the duo. It is also the only Gilbert and Sullivan operas written with only singing and recitative with no spoken dialogue.

Cast of Characters

The Learned Judge (baritone)

The Plaintiff - Angelina (soprano)

The Defendant - Edwin (tenor)

Counsel for the Plaintiff (baritone)

Usher (bass-baritone)

Foreman of the Jury (bass)

Associate (silent)

First Bridesmaid

Chorus of Bridesmaids, Gentlemen of the Jury, Barristers, Attorneys and Public

Based in a law court the opera opens with the jury, usher and attorneys preparing for a trial.

The usher prepares the jury calling the defendant a ruffian and to telling them to condole with the plaintiff. At the same time, he insists that the trial must be without bias.

When the defendant arrives, the jury vents their fury at him. Having told them that they have yet to hear his defense he goes on to sing of how he fell in love with one woman then over time fell for another. The jury agrees that they were once just like him but they are now respectable and therefore have no sympathy for the defendant.

When the judge enters, he tells them how in rising in his profession he courted "a rich attorney's elderly ugly daughter". Once he reached the height of his profession, he threw over the woman. With that, he commences the trial for breach of promise of marriage.

The jury sworn in, the plaintiff is called preceded by her bevy of bridesmaids. The men of the court are enraptured by the bridesmaids and even more so by the plaintiff.

The trial begins with the counsel for the plaintiff detailing her desertion by the defendant. During the song, the plaintiff feels faint and after first leaning on the foreman of the jury for support joins the judge, sitting next to him on the judge's bench.

The defendant offers to marry the plaintiff first then his other love the next day. A suggestion that the judge thinks a good idea until the plaintiff's counsel informs him, "But I submit, m'lud, with all submission, to marry two at once is Burglaree!"

The plaintiff pleads for substantial damages. To this, the defendant replies that he would not make a very good husband as he drinks a lot and would probably beat her.

A suggestion from the judge that to test whether the defendant speaks the truth that they make him tipsy and see if he would beat the plaintiff is met by objections by all but the defendant.

Annoyed and wishing to finish the trial the judge comes up with a final suggestion - that he will marry the plaintiff himself. The plaintiff joyfully accepts freeing the defendant from his obligation and so ends the Trial by Jury.

Reference Source:

The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive

Learn more about this author, Alison Bowler.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Plot summary: Trial by Jury, by Gilbert and Sullivan?
We want to hear your view. Write now!