Gilbert & Sullivan Players Presents TRIAL by JURY and G&S a la CARTE

America's foremost Gilbert & Sullivan repertory ensemble, the New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) will continue its season with a special performance of Trial by Jury along with the musical revue G&S a la Carte on Sunday, March 20th (5PM) at Peter Norton Symphony Space (2535 Broadway at 95th Street).

Under the artistic and music direction of Albert Bergeret, the company has presented over 2,600 performances throughout the United States, Canada, and England. Incorporating a 25-piece orchestra, its productions feature contemporary energy while retaining a traditional respect for each of the G&S masterpieces. New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players is considered by many to be the nation's "leading custodian of the G&S classics."

Trial by Jury is an over the top send up of the legal system. A lecherous judge and all male jury, a gold digging plaintiff, a self professed cad of a defendant, and a sleazy lawyer turn the courtroom proceedings upside down with self serving arguments and musical merriment. This 45 minute farce is the perfect remedy for the boredom induced by long, drawn out trials on TV. Beautiful Angelina is suing dashing Edwin for "breech of promise of marriage". The courtroom buzzes with anticipation as Edwin enters and introduces himself as a lover of variety, especially in women. The Jurymen admit similar instincts, but condemn his lack of fidelity. The Court Usher advises impartiality, as long as it favors the pretty girl, and introduces the Judge who tells how he obtained his appointment to the position by pretending to fall in love with, then ditching, a rich attorney's "elderly, ugly daughter". All of the men drool over Angelina As she admits to not being quite so unhappy about having been jilted as the law suit would make it appear. Angelina's lawyer paints a melodramatic picture of his client's mental anguish, so Edwin proposes to marry her on the spot while marrying someone else the next day. When the idiotic lawyer points out that this amounts to "burglary", (it should be bigamy), the courtroom breaks into a great operatic parody to express the "nice dilemma". All is resolved to everyone's satisfaction when the wealthy Judge agrees to marry Angelina himself and pays off Edwin for his trouble.

G&S à la Carte is an original revue developed by NYGASP to showcase its many talented artists and the incredible range of work by the incomparable team of Gilbert & Sullivan. From their most popular tongue-twisting "patter songs" to their dramatic double choruses and their pyrotechnics of vocal virtuosity ----this revue is a new found favorite of seasoned G&S devotees as well as new fans of the legendary team! Written to play as a follow up to the one act Trial by Jury, the cast from the opening night of this first G&S success in 1875 is invited to a party by producer Richard D'Oyly Carte where material from the G&S canon not yet created at the time is performed - in typical Gilbertian topsy-turvy fashion. When audience member and G&S fan Walter interrupts the proceedings to point out these historical inaccuracies, his intrusions are not welcomed by the illustrious collaborators and their associates on stage, until Walter demonstrates his own prowess at performing the G&S canon.

The NYGASP 2010-11 season is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, celebrating 50 years of building strong, creative communities in New York State's 62 counties.

Trial by Jury features a full score, while G&S a la Carte has an original book and some altered lyrics written by NYGASP's own David Auxier, who also directs. Both acts will feature NYGASP's full cast and orchestra conducted by Albert Bergeret. The Company's 36th Anniversary Season will conclude with a celebratory G&S Sing-Along event on May 22nd (5pm).

Tickets for Trial by Jury with the revue G&S a la Carte on March 20th (5PM) at The Peter J. Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space range in price from $82 - $62 for adults; $74 - $56 for seniors; $42 - $32 for children. All tickets can be purchased by: phoning (212) 864-5400; in person at the Peter Norton Symphony Space Box Office; or by visiting www.nygasp.org or www.symphonyspace.org.

Photo Credit: Amy Shaughnessy

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