The Vicar Of Dibley

The trick with any play which has been adapted from a television series, is to make the characters appear to be the same as those on the telly without making them caricatures.  As each performer came onto the stage there was a sigh of appreciation from the audience that the actor playing that character looked and sounded like the ones we were used to.

The script was put together from a number of episodes of the television, primarily in the first two series’.  It charted Geraldine’s arrival in Dibley and followed the burgeoning romance between Hugo and Alice.  Director Martyn Williams, drew out every piece of humour in the script and the packed audience clearly enjoyed the story as it unfolded.  Even though most of us were, probably very familiar with it anyway!

Every single performer ‘got’ their character; Jill Snelling was perfect for the role of Geraldine Grainger.    Wayne Prince gave Hugo just the right amount of mannerisms to make him believable. Vic Gray portrayed David Horton to perfection. Louis Alsop had got the voice and mannerisms of Alice very accurately.  Dave Carey was brilliant as Jim Trott, Harry Doyle was perfect as Frank Pickle, Mike Jones’ performance as Owen Newitt was terrific and Lisa Chapman played Letitia Cropley beautifully.  If I am enthusing too much I make no apologies, believe me it was well deserved.  I should also mention the five children who were in only one scene and the wedding but they gave it their all.

The scenery was excellent and the action moved smoothly between the parish hall and Geraldine’s living room.  Excellent use was made of the space.  I particularly liked the subtle changes to mark the passing of time, especially Mrs Cropley’s knitting and the crochet flowers in the button holes!

As a lifelong fan of the television series I was really looking forward to this production and I was not disappointed.  Thurrock Courts Players have produced another corker and it was lovely to learn that they had to put an extra performance in to accommodate the people who wanted to see the play.

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