Gilbert & Sullivan: The Yeomen of the Guard & Trial by Jury

The Yeoman of the Guard" is the "serious" Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, a comic work that actually ends tragically. Trial by Jury, by contrast, is a one-act farce that initiated Sullivan's association with Gilbert, and which deals with one of their stock gags: a woman of mature years and less than compelling looks seeks to trap a younger man into fulfilling a marriage vow. Charles Mackerras is the world's foremost expert on Sullivan. He even concocted a delightful ballet called Pineapple Poll to a plot by Gilbert, with music taken from the operettas. His performances of these two delightful works are as fine as we have any right to expect. --David Hurwitz