No 13 — July 1979 Edited by Michael Walters
TRIAL BY JURY, Imperial College O.S. Lunchtime performance, Tuesday 20th March 1979, Great Hall, Imperial College.
If this production did not seem to differ all that much from the two previous occasions when Trial has been the annual I.C. lunchtime Easter "do", it is probably only because there must be a limit to what you can do with it in that hall. Virtually without scenery, it is difficult to stage a production on a flight of steps. Roger Nicholls' production began and ended with Mr. & Mrs. Mops cleaning up, prior to the Trial, and being chased by the Usher as the public began to file in. Iain Craig made a promising conducting debut (if debut it was) though he had some problems of control, and the singers and orchestra were not always together but the latter produced some very nice sound. The tempi were on the slow side and lacked a certain infectious gaiety, which Trial seems to demand. Jon Goad (Usher) making his debut with ICOS has a very promising voice with a very pleasant tone. Unfortunately he had a frog in his throat in the first song. His way of building up the last verse almost to an emotional state of tears, contrasting with the calm placidness of "From bias free" was very good indeed. Steve Chaytow (Defendant) arrived with his latest "piece of stuff" and Best Man (Jeff Jenkins) all dressed for wedding. The Best Man had a guitar, which he tuned up (as per the score) at the intro to the Defendant's first song ? and then proceeded to accompany the song itself. A stroke of genius this ? and quite a nice "in" joke, as the guitar is one of Jeff's specialities. Jeff also ably sang the bottom note of the second echo. Steve Chaytow was very good, and remarkably controlled. Steve Bodle was a quaint, tubby, loveable little judge with a rather "twee" voice. He seemed nervous at his first entrance, but gained confidence as his big number progressed. The Usher, also, improved as the piece proceeded and he seemed to gain more confidence. He has a beautifully smooth voice. John Barratt took the Counsel's Song rather heavily and unemotionally, but with very clear line. The cadenza just before "A nice dilemma" was also heavy, suggesting that he has no real musical sense of humour. There were only two bridesmaids. Sally Heslop (the Plaintiff) seemed a bit subdued, and got her words muddled in "I love him". The "liquor" business, was nicely handled, the Judge having a hip?flask and an array of bottles or the bench, so that it went:? "The question, gentlemen, is one of liquor ? hic!'' MICHAEL WALTERS
Web page created 15 May 2001