The Vicar of Dibley

This performance is an amalgamation of several episodes from the well-known and much-loved TV series, The Vicar of Dibley, and is a challenging production requiring numerous scene changes to depict the various situations. We were entertained by Geraldine’s invite to Christmas lunch with the parishioners, which of course she cannot refuse, the famous Nativity scene with Alice, plus many others all of which worked well under the expert direction of Richard Wilshaw. 

For this to work, the actors must re-create as far as possible the mannerisms, speech and quirks of the original characters. They delivered their characters to a T with perfect timing with the very funny dialogue.

Fiona Broadhead was excellent as Geraldine Granger, and she really looked the part with her black bob-style hair and outfits so associated with this character – a great performance.

Another familiar character is the dizzy verger, Alice. Again, not an easy role to perform but Yvette Sayles was brilliant, and her characterisation, deliverance and accent was spot-on.   One of the many funny scenes was when Alice Horton is pregnant with her first child and she plays Mary in the Parish Church’s Nativity. Alice gave birth and thought the baby was Jesus.

Alice’s husband is the rather slow-witted Hugo Horton, played by Dan Fisher, giving a great interpretation of this well-known character. Stephen Hepworth gave a perfect characterisation of the pompous David Horton, businessman, local Councillor and the domineering father of Hugo, who also thought that his daughter-in-law was not quite “all-there”.

We all recognised Jim Trott with his familiar lines of “No, No, No…Yes” and David Mitchell was perfect in this role. One of the many funny scenes is during the Nativity when he gives his costume to Geraldine to help deliver the baby and I don’t think the audience could contain themselves. Frank Pickle, the council secretary, was perfectly played by Roger Hazlewood and Dean Charlton as Owen Newitt delivered his lines with exceptional comic timing and his mannerisms were exactly right.

There are always characters who make only one appearance in the TV series, and fortunately they get the opportunity to be performed in the stage play.

Anthony Lancashire played Simon (Geraldine’s lover) and using back projection we watch the lovers walking through the park right up to the famous scene where Geraldine jumps into the large dirty puddle. This was achieved with a very clever piece of stage work where Geraldine jumped into a hole set into the stage  floor – another great piece of comedy.

Taking on the other impressive roles of were Jemma Vernon as Alice Horton’s dim-witted mother, Mrs Tinker; Lucy Firth as her sister Mary Tinker, Jack O’Boyle as Tristan and Leah Grayson as Aoife.

A mention must also go to all the young people from the “Janet Mitchell School of Dance” and “Triple Threat Theatre Academy” for their carol singing and the cheeky lines.

Richard Wilson must be congratulated on an excellent production, and this goes to everyone who played a part either on or off the stage.

Thank you for the invite and an evening full of laughter and it was wonderful to see a full house. This great TV series was so spectacularly brought to the stage.

Sue Cox                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         NODA N.E. Drama Rep   Region 14                                                                                                                                         

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