Fred Sullivan - Trial By Jury and Death

Trial By Jury and Death

Sullivan next joined the company of Selina Dolaro at the Royalty Theatre, opening on 30 January 1875 in the role of Don Andres, the British Viceroy, in Offenbach's La Périchole. Richard D'Oyly Carte was manager of the theatre for Dolaro, and when one of La Périchole's companion pieces proved weak, Carte asked Gilbert to collaborate with Arthur Sullivan to write a one-act piece, Trial by Jury, for the theatre. Gilbert and Sullivan wrote the role of the Learned Judge for Fred Sullivan, and Trial by Jury opened at the Royalty 25 March 1875. Fred also continued to play Don Andres. Sullivan was made up for the role of the Learned Judge to look like the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Alexander Cockburn. The first-night critics reserved especial praise for his performance: "The greatest 'hit' was made by Mr. F. Sullivan, whose blending of official dignity, condescension, and, at the right moment, extravagant humour, made the character of the Judge stand out with all requisite prominence, and added much to the interest of the piece." The Times concurred: "Mr. F. Sullivan's impersonation of the learned and impressionable Judge deserves a special word of praise for its quiet and natural humour." Sullivan's performance was the hit of the show. F. C. Burnand wrote of him: "Fred Sullivan, Arthur's brother, was one of the most naturally comic little men I ever came across. He, too, was a first-rate practical musician. ... As he was the most absurd person, so was he the very kindliest. The brothers were devoted to each other".

After the Royalty closed for the summer in June 1875, Fred Sullivan toured in with Dolaro's company, performing in operettas, playing the Viceroy in La Périchole and Pomponnet in Lecocq’s La fille de Madame Angot, as well as the Judge in Trial. He was back at the Royalty Theatre when it reopened for the autumn season, again playing the Judge, and continued in the role when the show opened at the Opera Comique beginning in January 1876, except when he played the role in a few matinee performances at the Gaiety Theatre. In March 1876, W. S. Penley replaced Sullivan as the Judge for several performances when Sullivan was too ill to play the role because of his worsening tuberculosis. Sullivan was, however, able to resume the role until the production closed in May. From May to October, Emily Soldene's company played Trial on tour with Sullivan as the Judge, but at the end of the tour his declining health forced him to retire.

Sullivan died of liver disease and tuberculosis in Fulham, in 1877, at the age of only 39. Arthur Sullivan's enduring song, "The Lost Chord", was composed at Fred's bedside just five days before Fred died, and it is dedicated to his memory.