People

By Guy D. Garcia

The spectacle of a Supreme Court Justice taking a bribe in public is shocking. But that is what happened at Georgetown's Trinity Theater when Justice William Rehnquist joined the Washington Savoyards Ltd. for a surprise walk-on during their production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience. + Appropriately cast as the Solicitor, Rehnquist made his one-night-only appearance during the finale of the first act. Having been persuaded by the heroine to rig a raffle so that she can win the man she loves, Rehnquist stepped forward and, with much judicial flourish, presented a large bowl filled with extra tickets. The Justice, who reappeared for a solo curtain call (Oyez! Oyez!), turned out to be a real trouper. Reports Savoyards' Nancy Low: "He offered to bring his own costume."