Trial by Jury/Cox and Box 1983

Artistic Team

Philip A. Kraus......................................................................Stage Director
Joseph Thalken/Nancy Green..............................................Co-Music Directors

Cast

Cox and Box

James John Cox.....................................................................Clyde Crewey
John James Box.....................................................................David Huff
Sergeant Bouncer..................................................................James Hinton

Trial by Jury

The Learned Judge................................................................William T. Wronski
Defendant..............................................................................William Martin
Counsel for the Plaintiff..................................................... Carmen V. DeMichael
Usher..................................................................................... Jeff Lapidus
Jury Foreman.........................................................................Jeff Mattsey
Plaintiff................................................................................. Lynda Kemeny
Bridesmaids.......................................................................... Elizabeth Gellman
                                                                                                Barbara Joy Gray
                                                                                                Karen H. Laner
                                                                                                Lisa Woodruff
Washerwoman.......................................................................Julie Ann Barnes

Gentlemen of the Jury: Mark Hayden Adams, Christopher Frye, Sean Grennan, Michael Shawn Howerter, Daniel Hurtado, Christopher Lorimer, Frank McCormick, Stuart W. Rogers, Jerry A. Sigman

Spectators: Julie Ann Barnes, Cathy Blackard, Mary Chapell, Elizabeth Gelman, Barbara Joy Gray, Karen H. Laner, Sheryl L. Long, Lisa Palumbo, Elizabeth Paul, Ruth Perlman, Hazella Rollins-Epps, Lisa Woodruff

Although this double bill was not technically on the season and was done as a benefit under the title An Evening of Victorian Farce, both pieces were done with complete casts drawn from the company's top artists of the past two seasons. Additionally, makeshift scenery was organized from saved panels grom The Beautiful Galatea and the both casts were completely costumed. For a really shoe-string budget, the production managed to look good and with the strong casting, managed to be more than viable presentations of these works.

It was always Philip Kraus' intention to work his way through all the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. However, Trial by Jury being a short 45 minute work presented a problem. It was decided to do the piece with the Burnand and Sullivan piece, Cox and Box for this benefit rather than present the work on the main stage. Both pieces are typical of the Victorian style of operetta which attempted to depart from French models in favor of judicial satire and music hall burlesque.

The two operettas were presented for two performances at the Weinstein Center for the Performing Arts at the National College of Education. Piano accompaniment was used in place of the expensive full orchestra.

It was a credit to the artists in these perfomances that all of them believed in the company enough to donate their services and rehearsal time for free. For everyone involved, including Kraus, it was a labor of love to help the company both financially and artistically.

Due to the benefit status of the production, it was not reviewed by any critics. Their loss!!!

Use the buttons on the left to view pictures from the production.