The Vicar of Dibley

This stage adaptation of the well loved TV comedy of the 1990’s includes all the main characters from the TV series. It tells the story from the arrival into the village of Dibley’s first female vicar, as she wins over the reluctant members of the Parish Council up until the time she is thinking of moving on to an urban parish in Liverpool. The characterisations of each of the cast were spot on. Ashley Mildon was excellent as the vicar Geraldine Grainger displaying the character’s bubbly nature perfectly as she overcame the Parish Councils resistance to her appointment with her infectious humour, compassion – and her love of chocolate. Her growing friendship with the verger Alice Tinker was beautifully portrayed. Dim-witted and naive Alice was superbly played by Robyn McRitchie capturing the essence of the late Emma Chambers to a T. Her burgeoning romance with Hugo Horton and her one-to-one joke telling sessions with Geraldine had the audience in hoots of laughter. Graeme Mackay as Hugo Horton, the dim-witted son of the Parish Council chairman, displayed the mannerisms of a shy but loving young man perfectly and had the audience cheering him on as he eventually proposed to Alice. His references to Star Trek characters and events added to his air of innocence. Colin Jones as David Horton - the pompous chairman of the Parish Council and Hugo’s father – too gave an excellent performance capturing the character’s overbearing manner as to the manor borne. Richard Stables portrayal of Frank Pickles the Council’s friendly but pernickety Minute Secretary was spot on – we have all sat on committees with a Frank and/or a David on them! Adding much to the laughter in the piece was Grahame Whyte’s portrayal of the slow witted and bumbling Jim Trott complete with the character’s stuttering “no, no, no...yes” catchphrase. As too did Stuart McMain’s portrayal of the sex-mad farmer Owen Newitt with his unsuccessful attempts to woo Geraldine after she gave him a “pity” first kiss. Stephanie Wild was very convincing as the elderly Letitia Cropley always ready to lend a hand with church activities whether as organist, unorthodox flower arranger or caterer with her unusual recipes. One of the highlights of the evening was the wedding of Hugo and Alice – in her voluminous white dress with the large heart on the front – when the service was interrupted by a woman (a cameo appearance by Hilary Esson) pertaining that Hugo was already married to her. By using a split set – one half the Parish Council meeting room and the other the living room of the vicarage – allowed for the smooth change over from one scene to the next as did the effective use of lighting. Congratulations everyone at Culter Theatre Club for delivering a hugely entertaining evening – I haven’t heard so many people laughing in one place for a long time.

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