Penn Singers present light operatic fare

In an well-choreographed presentation, the Penn Singers performed their rendition of Trial by Jury and The Sorcerer by Sir William S. Gilbert. The group, which specializes in light opera, combined dance and music to tell two very distinct stories. In Trial by Jury, angry young wife Angelina, played by College freshman Rachel Rothman, summons her husband to court because she realizes her husband is in love with another. An attractive woman, she captivates the judge and jury with her beauty. The defendant, her husband Edwin, is played by Engineering junior Ferit Albukrek. He defends his love for his mistress and his intention to continue the affair despite his marriage. He even claims he gets drunk and beats his wife so that he can end the marriage. The judge and jury deliberate at length and the confusion is well expressed through the operatic sounds and movement. Angelina, using her passion, seeks reparations and the judge ends the chaotic session with an equally funny solution. The Sorcerer is the tale of Aline Sangazure and Alexis Poindextre, who are engaged to be married. Their parents celebrate the engagement by throwing the bride and groom a garden party. It is expected to be a joyous affair. Alexis, however, played by College senior Christopher Wilkes, wishes everyone to be as much in love as he is. In order to spread his eager cheer, he hires the Family Sorcerer, played by Engineering senior Marc Weitz, to concoct a potion to deliver love to all the party guests. The potion, of course, creates a mismatch of couples and a general state of confusion eventually resolved at the story's conclusion. The Penn Singers combine their talent with the satire of Gilbert and Sullivan, and offer a very humorous production. The show is playing at the Zellerbach Theater April 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available on Locust Walk and at the door.