<P> Gilbert finally called on Sullivan and read the libretto to him on 20 February 1875 . Sullivan was enthusiastic, later recalling, "(Gilbert) read it through...in the manner of a man considerably disappointed with what he had written . As soon as he had come to the last word, he closed up the manuscript violently, apparently unconscious of the fact that he had achieved his purpose so far as I was concerned, inasmuch as I was screaming with laughter the whole time ." Trial by Jury, described as "A Novel and Original Dramatic Cantata" in the original promotional material, was composed and rehearsed in a matter of weeks . </P> <P> The result of Gilbert and Sullivan's collaboration was a witty, tuneful and very "English" piece, in contrast to the bawdy burlesques and adaptations of French operettas that dominated the London musical stage at that time . </P> <P> Initially, Trial by Jury, which runs only 30 minutes or so, was played last on a triple bill, on which the main attraction, La Périchole (starring Dolaro as the title character, Fred Sullivan as Don Andres and Walter H. Fisher as Piquillo), was preceded by the one - act farce Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata . The latter was immediately replaced by a series of other curtain raisers . The composer conducted the first night's performance, and the theatre's music director, B. Simmons, conducted thereafter . The composer's brother, Fred Sullivan, starred as the Learned Judge, with Nellie Bromley as the Plaintiff . One of the choristers in Trial by Jury, W.S. Penley, was promoted in November 1875 to the small part of the Foreman of the Jury and made a strong impact on audiences with his amusing facial expressions and gestures . In March 1876, he temporarily replaced Fred Sullivan as the Judge, when Fred's health declined from tuberculosis . With this start, Penley went on to a successful career as comic actor, culminating with the lead role in the record - breaking original production of Charley's Aunt . Fred Sullivan died in January 1877 . </P> <P> Jacques Offenbach's works were then at the height of their popularity in Britain, but Trial by Jury proved even more popular than La Périchole, becoming an unexpected hit . Trial by Jury drew crowds and continued to run after La Périchole closed . While the Royalty Theatre closed for the summer in 1875, Dolaro immediately took Trial on tour in England and Ireland . The piece resumed at the Royalty later in 1875 and was revived for additional London seasons in 1876 at the Opera Comique and in 1877 at the Strand Theatre . </P>

Who created the part of the learned judge on the original production of trial by jury