Trial by Jury and A Matter of Misconduct – Festival Theatre

Welcome to another episode of the hit TV show, Trial by Jury! Gilbert and Sullivan’s comedy opens this double bill from Scottish Opera. The setting is a Jerry Springer-style TV show, rather than a real-life courtroom, and we are the studio audience. This means that the performers get to interact to the crowd, exaggerating the showmanship of the characters. The absurdity of the story is perfect for the I’d-do-anything-to-get-on-TV scenario.

The jury, and the audience, are instructed to be impartial, but the libretto and the staging subvert this, with light-up signs demanding “APPLAUSE” and telling us when to “BOO”. The plaintiff, jilted bride Angelina, is immediately anointed as the darling of judge and jury alike, while her ex, Edwin (Jamie McDonald) is reviled for his cruelty. She’s referred to as a “broken flower” and a “cheated maid”, while they call him an “unmanly male”. Somehow, everyone in the courtroom basically worships Learned Judge (Richard Suart), even though he is guilty of the same “crime” as the defendant, having abandoned his first wife. The coloratura in the vocals help to play up the doddery characteristics of this ageing character, and we warm to him even though we know he’s a bad ‘un. There’s a funny bit where two court officials compete to summon the defendant, each adding vocal flourishes in an effort to outdo each other.

There are reams of storytelling packed into the costumes. Everyone has come straight from the wedding, with kilts, suits and, strangely, a lab coat telling the tale of each character. The bridesmaids wear gaudily tiered meringues in purple taffeta. There can be no doubt about their devotion to Angelina: you’d have to ardently love your friend to wear such a thing. The members of the ensemble have developed their own characters’ journeys in detail, adding texture to the production.

The brand-new piece, A Matter of Misconduct, is a portrait of naked political corruption, and I am bursting with admiration for the cheeky soul who secured Scottish Government funding for this. The piece is compelling from the first song, performed by Kira Caplan as legal shark Sylvia Lawless. Iago-like, she brags that, while mud sticks to most people, some are made of Teflon. Behind such people, there is always someone like her. Power dressing in her matchy-matchy light blue suit and bag, she walks like she owns the world, and I was drawn to her no-nonsense strength, even though she makes no secret about being, in fact, evil.

Resplendent in pink and orange, “Pound shop Gwyneth Paltrow”, Cherry Penistone, runs a wellness company called GUSH! Cue lots of jokes about things like sex toys and vaginal dryness. Her company hasn’t been doing too well, so she accepted money that she shouldn’t have. Oh, and her husband Roger (Ross Cumming) is the Deputy Prime Minister. Naturally, there is a motorhome involved. The story is about to be leaked to the press, and Sylvia Lawless is summoned to avert the scandal using dastardly means. It’s The Thick Of It meets Gwyneth goes Skiing.

There was one scene that didn’t quite gel with me – a duet between our wellness guru and her politician husband. They reminisce about the times they have gotten away with things. I wasn’t convinced by the change of pace here. And really, in 2025, does “bi-curious” still have to be a punchline? Please stop. On the other hand, the duet is scored like a cinematic showdown. That made me happy. If this scene was tweaked just a little bit, I would give the piece a solid five stars.

Emma Jenkins’s libretto is witty and irreverent, charmingly smutty at times, and gives the performers plenty to play with. There’s real anger there, about the ways that rich people get away with dastardly deeds, while the rest of us have to play by the rules or face ruin. Toby Hession’s score lays on the drama and brings glorious moments of comedy. “Misogyny. It never gets old.” is not, on paper, a particularly funny joke, but the heightened quality provided by the music gives it a hilarity boost, and it gets quite the laugh.

Both pieces share a focus on corruption, and a libretto full of wit and delights. Both have us sympathising with a character who personifies the dictionary definition of despicable. They are staged with a larger-than-life charisma and self-awareness. Above all, the whole experience is great fun. So what are you waiting for? Book your tickets. Just don’t ever trust your lawyer.

You can find more information about the production, and book tickets, on the Scottish Opera website: Trial by Jury / A Matter of Misconduct! | Scottish Opera.

Reviewer: Wendy McEwan

Reviewed: 30^rd May 2025

North West End UK Rating: