Cox and Box & Trial by Jury at Rockdale
Jon Smith wears the dual hats of Director and Musical Director for Rockdale Opera Company’s double bill of Cox and Box and Trial by Jury at Rockdale Town Hall from May 30 to June 7, 2015.
“Having been approached by Rockdale Opera Company's artistic director, it took almost no time at all to decide that I would love to have the chance to direct and double bill comprising of Burnand and Sullivan's Cox and Box and Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury,” Jon told Stage Whispers. “What a fitting tribute, especially for Trial, as it celebrates its 140th anniversary.
“As a relative purist, the approach I wanted to take was to present both pieces in a semi-traditional manner - as I am a firm believer that such an approach still works. It was also important to me that as much as possible of Sullivan's full score be reinstated into Cox and Box, even if it meant researching and rewriting scores almost from scratch, as the piece has been heavily abridged and edited over the last 100 years. Also, with a return to the Morton's play of Box and Cox, I wanted to cast the role of Bouncer as originally conceived - Mrs. Bouncer.
“Trial by Jury is still as tuneful and fresh as it was when originally produced. This one act gem needs no introduction to G & S devotees and it is wonderful to have the chance to share this piece with so many people who hold this opera fondly in their memories.
"Complete with new orchestrations, this double bill should prove a delight for both the seasoned theatre-goers and newcomers to the world of comic opera and Gilbert and Sullivan in particular."
Trial By Jury & Cox and Box
Sat, 30th May 2015 - Sun, 7th Jun 2015
ROCKDALE TOWN HALL
Bookings Phone: 02 47306932
Bookings online: www.rockdaleopera.com
More Reading
Community Theatre Seasons 2015.
Images (from top): (left to right) Glen Steltzer, Megan Chalmers and John Morrison; Jon Smith; & (left to right) Megan Chalmers, Samanta Lestavel, Mitch Bryson & John Morrison. Photographer Ray Wing-Lun.
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