{"id":120216,"date":"2025-12-11T10:12:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T15:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=120216"},"modified":"2025-12-11T10:12:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T15:12:16","slug":"interview-rollicking-fun-gilbert-sullivan-returns-st-annes-music-drama-societys-double-bill-trial-jury-h-m-s-pinafore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/12\/11\/interview-rollicking-fun-gilbert-sullivan-returns-st-annes-music-drama-societys-double-bill-trial-jury-h-m-s-pinafore\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Rollicking Fun of Gilbert & Sullivan Returns With St. Anne\u2019s Music And Drama Society\u2019s Double Bill Of Trial by Jury & H.M.S. Pinafore"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L:
L: St. Anne\u2019s Music And Drama Society production of The Yeomen of the Guard, 2024 Photo: Emma Lander); R: Roy Schatz, founder of MADS, (St. Anne\u2019s Music And Drama Society) in H.M.S. Pinafore in 2011 (Photo: Martin Chai)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

St. Anne\u2019s Music and Drama Society<\/h2>\n

St. Anne\u2019s Music and Drama Society<\/a> (MADS as they call themselves) is the only organization in Toronto that has been performing Gilbert & Sullivan operettas exclusively and yearly since 1964. MADS has staged all 13 of the surviving G&S operas. For the company\u2019s 62nd production this year, they will be staging a double bill of Trial by Jury and H.M.S. Pinafore for an impressive seven performances.<\/p>\n

LV spoke to MADS Artistic Director & Producer Laura Schatz<\/strong> about this upcoming production.<\/p>\n

Trial by Jury and H.M.S. Pinafore<\/h3>\n

Trial by Jury was Gilbert & Sullivan\u2019s first collaboration that still survives, written in 1875 as an after piece for Jacques Offenbach\u2019s comic opera, La P\u00e9richole. The short work is under 40 minutes and is the only G&S opera that contains no spoken dialogue. In fact, Trial was the first production that MADS did in its inaugural season.<\/p>\n

Laura says, \u201cTrial is considered by many to be the most perfectly constructed of all the G&S operas. It is a little gem of wit, sentiment and charm. It contains some of Sullivan\u2019s most sparkling music, and the absurdities of a legal breach of promise of marriage case are a perfect subject for Gilbert\u2019s charming wit.\u201d<\/p>\n

H.M.S. Pinafore was the fourth collaboration between Gilbert & Sullivan and their first major success. It is full or recognizable tunes, which even appeared in The Simpsons and Star Trek. The humour is timeless, poking fun at authority and social class.<\/p>\n

Laura explains, \u201cPinafore became so popular that it was extensively \u2018pirated\u2019 by American companies, who paid no royalties to G&S. This is the reason that their next opera The Pirates of Penzance was premiered simultaneously in England and the USA to establish copyright.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is MAD\u2019s fifth production of Trial and sixth mounting of Pinafore, but the first time both operas are performed together as a double bill. Laura explained that one of the reasons she chose to stage these two operas together. \u201cWe had an influx of fantastic young singers auditioning this year and I didn\u2019t have enough roles, especially female ones, for the amount of talent that we have available to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a number of amazing sopranos and mezzos audition this year who are new to the show, and even though I could not cast them in leads, a number of them have decided to stay and sing chorus. So, our ensemble this year is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cast<\/h3>\n

This year, the cast is a wonderful combination of over 40 singers who have been performing with MADS for years and those who are brand new to G&S. Some of the Pinafore leads will be in Trial\u2019s ensemble, and all of the Trial leads are in Pinafore\u2019s chorus. They will be accompanied by an 18-piece orchestra.<\/p>\n

MADS veterans Marc Potvin<\/strong> and Beth Armstrong-Chauvin<\/strong>, who have been in over 10 productions, are cast in the lead roles of Pinafore\u2019s Sir Joseph Porter and Josephine respectively. U of T voice performance students Emma Lavigne<\/strong> and Josh Gibson<\/strong>, who made their G&S and MADS debut in last year\u2019s The Yeomen of the Guard, are returning as Angelina \u2014 the lead in Trial \u2014 and Dick Deadeye in Pinafore.<\/p>\n

Three newcomers have sizeable roles. Luca McCauley<\/strong> is singing the lead role of Ralph in Pinafore, whereas Lindsay Faulkner<\/strong> and Shriyans Dash<\/strong> are in Trial as the First Bridesmaid and Usher. An additional 10 or so newcomers are in the ensemble. For the young singers, MADS is a great place to get stage experience and have a fun time. \u201cWhat I have the time to do is teach them some basic stagecraft, which they take away with them to any future operatic productions that they do,\u201d according to Laura.<\/p>\n

Always a family affair, MADS productions tend to have multi-generational families involved together. \u201cWe have the two teenagers performing with their dad in Trial together. My daughter is in the production too,\u201d says Laura.<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n

G&S may be a dying art of sorts, but MADS is keeping its legacy alive. Laura offers, \u201cWhat G&S needs to survive is to have people come out and have so much fun doing it that they invite their friends, and then more young people come out to see and enjoy it, and want to be involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

St. Anne\u2019s Music and Drama Society presents Trial by Jury & H.M.S. Pinafore January 30 to February 8, 2026 at St. Anne\u2019s Parish Hall, 651 Dufferin St., Toronto.<\/p>\n