The Vicar of Dibley

This stage play by Ian Gower and Paul Carpenter is adapted from the original TV series by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer with kind permission of Tiger Aspect Productions. The script is based on two episodes –“The Arrival” and “The wedding of Hugo and Alice”. The majority of the adults in the large audience were late middle aged and their early responses to the actions on stage clearly indicated they were avid fans of “The Vicar of Dibley” series. One half of the stage was set as the interior of the vicarage and the other half used as the hall in which the parish meetings were held. As with many productions of this particular work, the switching between these two locations tended to become somewhat repetitive but the clever use of musical extracts from the era in which the plays were written helped to alleviate the situation.

The early scenes featured members of the Parochial Church Council engaged in meetings who were immediately recognisable from their excellent displays of characterisation developed through much application during rehearsals. Attempts were made to emulate behaviour, speech patterns, voices, styles of dress and the adoption of any idiosyncrasies of the actors from the televised series who had become extremely well known. The story line begins with the death of the “ancient” incumbent and the Parochial Church Council gathering to welcome a new priest who they presume will be a young male. Shock! Horror! They have been allocated a woman priest with a large bosom and an expansive sense of humour!(Please see explanatory footnote.)

Gill Glaffreda (as the Rev.Geraldine Granger) remained calm regardless of the variety of situations she was required to face which included being told that she was not wanted in the parish and a letter to the Bishop had been prepared requesting that she is replaced by a man. Adrian Worgan delivered a strong performance as the pompous and arrogant Council Chairman, David Horton. Jason Wilson was excellent as his weak and unfortunate son, Hugo Horton.

Jessica Forbes was wonderful in her part as Verger Alice Tinker who repeatedly smoothed down her dress as an indication of her propriety. Chris Walker, as Frank Pickle – the taker of minutes, steadfastly believed he was performing the very important contribution to the meetings and was most meticulous in his recording of them. Phil Briston’s version of Jim Trott , a man who consistently muddled his answers of yes and no, quickly endeared himself to the audience as did Stuart Giddings, who played farmer, Owen Newitt.

Lorraine Spencer played Letitia Cropley, a lady with strange culinary tastes and a penchant for knitting. Alison Kirby played the part of a woman who endeavoured to sabotage a wedding but hadturned up at the wrong church. Isobel Youll, William Hulme, Rafan Jackson and Charlie Taylor played the parts of choristers and were also the “Teletubbies” in attendance at Alice & Hugo’s wedding.

This was well received entertainment delivered with enthusiasm. Congratulations to all who were involved!

NOTE: There is no mention in “The Arrival” of the historical difficulties experienced by women wishing to be ordained as priests in the Church of England. The issue was included in the agenda for the 1920 Lambeth conference but was not discussed. There then followed years of prevarication and procrastination and it was not until 1994 that the first woman priest was ordained. To make up for lost time by 2008 one quarter of the Church of England Clergy was women and half of the students training for ordination were women.  

  

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