1985, Trial by Jury

These history notes have been kindly provided by our long-term artistic director and co-founder, Graham Ford.

It was the fourteenth of May, 1985, when Graham Ford received a phone call from Ian Lowe, conductor of the Eltham Community Orchestra. Graham and his wife Mavis were resident soloists with the Diamond Valley Choral Society, which had combined with Ian's orchestra for some excerpts of Haydn's Creation a few months before.

Ian, a talented pianist and bassoonist, had inherited the conducting position when the incumbent resigned on Ian's first rehearsal night - and he "volunteered".

Now the orchestra was organising a concert with a local madrigal group, the `Caledonia Singers', who had suggested performing Trial by Jury, and Ian was looking for soloists. Graham's reaction was to ask if they required a director; Mavis said she would `kill' for Angelina!

Graham and Mavis had met singing the solos in Elijah for the Diamond Valley Choral Society, and had been married just over a year. They already organised the `Diamond Creek Occasional Ecumenical Choir', which occasionally performed cantatas in the various churches, and both taught singing, so there was a nucleus to draw from. An article appeared in the local paper.

Rehearsals

Two weeks later Ian rang back to say the Caledonia Singers had changed their mind, but did Graham and Mavis want to go ahead anyway? Robert Alves, a tenor student of Graham's, had already agreed to play the defendant. An organist at Diamond Creek Uniting Church, Robert was venturing back to Gilbert and Sullivan for the first time since university. Peter Thomas, another tenor from the Diamond Creek Choir, played the Foreman of the Jury.

A quick call to Alan Gerrets, a friend of Ian's who had recently sold his electronic organ to Diamond Creek Uniting Church, which Graham and Mavis attended, and a pianist was available.

The first rehearsal was on June 16. Ian had organised to borrow some scores, but they hadn't arrived, so everyone was presented with a photocopy of the first chorus. As people arrived they were asked if they were interested in lead roles. One had played the judge at school some thirty years before, so he was asked to understudy that part. Bert de Luca proved to be an excellent judge.

Many were members of the Diamond Valley Choral Society, including their conductor, Val Lennie. After rehearsing the one chorus everyone went back to Graham's to watch the video of the show.

Mavis was in the middle of producing her school musical, so at the second rehearsal there were no sopranos! However, there were some beautiful sounds coming from the basses. These belonged to Chris White and he was asked to play the Usher - he'd said he was happy to sing chorus. Later we learnt he was also singing with Melbourne Music Theatre and the Victorian State Opera! Russell Lath, a school friend of Mavis's son, was invited to play the Counsel.

Meanwhile it was Ian who was doing all the chasing around. He organised a performance at Greensborough Baptist, which was provided free as proceeds were for World Vision. He also organised a rehearsal schedule, a photographer, makeup lady and costume lady.

1985 Trial By Jury cast

Marguerite and Gerald Edgar came along from the Gilbert and Sullivan Society with a wealth of experience. Gerald was able to help Graham with the standard choreography while Marguerite played a superb drunk. They also managed to find some costumes.

At the end of September the makeup lady, Carole Driscoll, came along to check things out. A director with Eltham Little Theatre, she volunteered to assist Graham, which worked out well, as Graham was still covering for missing principals.

The Shows

Show poster

On Wednesday October 2, the Valley Musical Society gave its first performance of Trial by Jury at Templestowe Retirement Village with Rita Burchill, the understudy, playing Angelina.

Three days later the full program was presented at Greensborough Baptist Church to an audience of around three hundred. The first half comprised a Schubert symphony and the Caledonia Singers singing a cappella. Trial by Jury occupied the second half.

Chris had produced some flats which were propped against the pulpit and table - both fell down. The sound engineers supplied by the church had not attended the rehearsal and many mikes were late coming in. However, performers and audience alike had a wonderful time and everyone was most enthusiastic. Mavis's main problem was how to sing after having all the breath squeezed out of her by the burly Peter Thomas.

Next afternoon the second performance took place in the Eltham Community Centre before an audience of around two hundred. Pews were borrowed from the Baptist church and again it was a great success. $1,300 was raised for World Vision.

Cast
Mavis Ford - Angelina
Robert Alves - Defendant
Bert de Luca - Judge
Russell Lath - Counsel
Peter Thomas - Foreman
Chris White - Usher/Set Design
Marilyn Billing - Soprano
Rita Burchill - Soprano
Heather Connor - Soprano
Frances Johnson - Soprano
Valda Lennie - Soprano
Christine Manser - Soprano
Vicki Owen - Soprano
Patricia Pearsall - Soprano
Jessie Angus - Alto
Marguerite Edgar - Alto
Patricia Sheppard - Alto
Thelma Taylor - Alto
Bev Werner - Alto
Stan Angus -Tenor
Paul Clements - Tenor
Walter Ezard - Tenor
Vaughan Werner - Tenor
Gerald Edgar - Bass
Barry Hollingsworth - Bass
Paul Paton - Bass
Stan Taylor - Bass
Kevin Whiting - Bass
Graham Ford - Director
Carole Driscoll - Assistant Director/Makeup
Ian Lowe - Conductor
Helen Norster - Costumes
Michael Bond - Lighting
Alan Gerrets - Pianist