AMATEURS they may be, but St Helens Catholic Gilbert and Sullivan Society once again enthralled audiences with the sheer professionalism of their performances with a five-night extravaganza of music and mirth when they presented 'Trial by Jury' and 'HMS Pinafore' at the Theatre Royal.

This choice of operettas proved an ideal mix, with the first portraying the majesty of the British legal system in a breach of promise action, with judge James Culley, plaintiff Laura Hudson, defendant Michael Barrett, counsel Wilfred Fildes and jury foreman Stephen Hill taking the principal roles

'HMS Pinafore', while often ploughing through the stormy waters of the Establishment and class distinction, was awash with humour, with imperious First Lord of the Admiralty Sir Joseph Porter (Mark Little) and sweet-voiced Captain's daughter Josephine (Gillian Galloway) often catching the eye.

As did Little Buttercup (Carole Smith) and Hebe (Christine Hill) while an evening of lyrical bliss was complemented by the following chorus members: Ladies - Carol Baker, Elaine Bilton, Mary Bryan, Vera Cox, Josephine Foster, Margaret Johnson, Pat McIntyre, Dorrie McNamara, Mary Middlehurst, Margaret Navin, Sandra Platt, Magdalen Scott. Gentlemen - John Appleton, Tony Bourke, Gordon, Bowden, John Foster, Paul Gaskell, Michael Halligan, Gerald Henebery, Dave Hill, Alan Kerfoot, Anthony Moran, Stephen Raftery, Joseph Thomas.

And no G & S production can scale the heights without the backing of a finely-tuned orchestra, supplied here by musical director Raymond Dobbs and his maestros.

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