A PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM OF "TRIAL BY JURY" - 1922

by GEORGE COOK

Introduction

This is the second group of photographs which comes from the album of George Cook (1883 - 1968). He put together and annotated of this collection at a series of performances by the Leicester Amateur Dramatic Society (of which he was a member) at the Leicester Opera House in March 1922. Each evening consisted of "HMS Pinafore" in which he played the lead tenor Ralph Rackstraw and "Trial By Jury" (in which he did not appear).

The photographs of "HMS Pinafore" are shown in the first album.

THE ALBUM

The Album Cover	The Fly Leaf

THE PLAYERS

The Judge

The Judge "A good judge, too!"

The Protagonists

The Plaintiff "Ah me! Ah me!!"	The Defendant "With all respect, I do object"

The Officials

The Plaintiff's Counsel "With a sense of deep emotion I approach this painful case"	The Usher "Silence in Court"

The Supporters

The First Bridesmaid	The Second Bridesmaid

THE PERFORMANCE

"TRIAL BY JURY" by GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

Performed by the Leicester Amateur Dramatic Society at
The Opera House, Leicester. March 22nd to 26th 1922.

The Cast

The Judge .......................................................... Mr A.B. Talbot
The Plaintiff ........................................................ Miss Doris How
The Defendant .................................................. Mr A.E. Stevenson
Plaintiff's Councel ............................................ Mr C.W. Dedman
The Usher .......................................................... Mr W Keats
The First Bridesmaid ....................................... Miss Ida Manger
The Second Bridesmaid ................................. Miss R Vyse

PRESS COVERAGE

The following article appeared in the Leicester Mercury in March 1922.

Leicester Mercury March 1922

"AMATEURS AT THE OPERA HOUSE"

"Pinafore" and "Trial By Jury"

"The performance at the Opera House last night in many respects, and especially in some individual instances, reached as high a level as the Leicester Amateurs have ever reached.

In 'Trial By Jury', that funny little satire on the devastating influence of a "faire ladie" in a Court of Justice, Mr A.B. Talbot has found a part that is absolutely within his scope. He is exactly the right balance between pseudo-judicial dignity and nonsensical lack of dignity of any kind whatever. One can write it down as the best thing he has done. His diction throughout was remarkably clear and understandable. Mr W.S. Keates, too, managed to pack the part of the Usher as full as could be with this amusing charicature. Though the part of the Plaintiff calls for little in the way of characterisation, Miss Doris How made the most of it, and sang in her usual charming style. Miss Ida Manger, as the 'first bridesmaid', did very nicely too while Mr C.W. Dedman and A.E. Stevenson filled their parts with good and careful effect.

A word must be given to the cleverly stage-managed jurymen, bridesmaids and the public crowd. 'Trial By Jury' is one of the most hilarious of the Gilbert and Sullivan productions, and is ssen all too rarely

Quite as much can scarcely be said for 'HMS Pinafore'. It is Gilbertian to a degree, and there is any amount of tuneful and clever music, but the high level is scarcely maintained all the way through.

Though the part of "Josephone" is scarcely as suited to Miss Louie Hill's undoubted gifts as the dainty Phyllis of last year, she nevertheless did extraordinarily well. She has a natural ease and the gift of "walking the boards" given to few amateur players, as well as a pretty sense of interpretation. She sang as easily and charmingly as she acted. Madame Lily Callis scarcely succeeded in getting either her voice or her personality over the footlights, but for a first attempt did very well indeed. Miss Dorothy Barfield is to be congratulated on a graceful and natural presentation of Hebe.

It goes without saying that Mr J.H. Taylor had all the quiet effectiveness of a thoroughly experienced actor. Mr Taylor always makes his effects certain by never straining after them. Much the same made be said of Mr Reg. Green, whose fine voice and steady style are invaluable assets to the company. In Mr George Cook the Leicester Amateurs have a distinct find. He has a rich full tenor voice and a pleasant aptitude for acting. Mr Alfred Aston essayed the somewhat difficult part of "Dick Dead-Eye" with considerable neatness of effect; while Mr L.E. Cartwright and Mr J.W. Johnson both did well as the bo'sun and his mate. A word of praise must be given for the lissome dancing of Miss Winifred Rink.

The whole undertaking, a very big one, reflects great credit on those who have been responsible - Mr T.H. Prentice, Mr J.H. Taylor, Mr W.G. Orton, Mr J.C. McRobie, Mr G.R. Tebbs, Mr J.W. Staunton, Mr W Palmer, Mr W. Thorne, Mr J.K. Blackwell and Mr Arthur Talbot."

Album provided by Brenda Eldridge; Transcribed by Alan D Craxford. December 14th 2005

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