Trial By Jury operetta takes on Fair City twist
Rehearsals are starting soon for a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta being revived in Perth this autumn.
‘Trial By Jury’ is being put on by the Fair City’s Jambouree Cabaret Singers, on September 10 in St Leonard’s-inthe-Fields Church.
In order to widen the musical participation, local enthusiasts are invited to join the chorus. With this in mind, the first rehearsals are soon to be held.
There will be four rehearsals involving the chorus, starting on Sunday, May 7 from 3-4pm in St Leonard’s Church Hall.
Further rehearsals will be arranged to suit and it will cost £5 to participate in the final evening in September.
When the musical evening is performed, the first half will present excerpts from various Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, featuring choruses, solos, duets and quartets.
In the second half, the audience will become the spectators in a Scottish courtroom for a performance of “Trial By Jury”, set in Perth.
The judge, played by Kenneth Maciver, will try the case of the defendant in an action for breach of promise of marriage.
The defendant will be played by Liam Bonthrone and his jilted bride by Teenah Bee.
The lyrics have been slightly updated to suit the Perth setting by Alan Laing, who will compere the evening’s entertainment.
The performance in September will be accompanied on two pianos played by musical director Edna herself and by Lorne Heriot-Maitland. The choruses will be conducted by Rona Mackenzie.
Well-known musical director Edna Auld has always wanted to introduce Gilbert and Sullivan to her Cabaret Singers.
She discovered their music as a student and performed lead roles in a number of operettas.
“Now,” said Edna, “my young singers, aged from 15 to 26, are loving the excerpts they are rehearsing.”
Information about joining the chorus scan be found on jambouree.co.uk Kenneth Maciver (left) and Teenah Bee (right) sing with Jambouree Cabaret Singers in Trial by Jury.