The Vicar of Dibley

There's always an element of risk when trying to emulate characters from such a well-known and loved television series as "The Vicar of Dibley".  However, Paul Gardiner as Director, assisted by Gemma Harrison, had masterfully avoided this pit-fall with their well-chosen cast, who lovingly brought to life each iconic character for us in this Centre Stage production, in support of Comic Relief.

Furthermore, Paul Gardiner and Bernard Sipple had created an authentic-looking Dibley Parish Room and the interior of the vicar's cottage-style living room in a cleverly devised split set, which worked extremely well and kept the pace brisk throughout.  Jan Davidson and Debbie Corsby had sourced some delightful costumes and accessories to compliment the characters and Alice Tinker's illuminated dress was "spot on", as were the children's Teletubbies and Dalek costumes in their all-too-brief appearance in the wedding scene!

This stage adaptation by Ian Gower and Paul Carpenter is a combination of a number of episodes from the first two series of this wonderfully scripted masterpiece of comedy by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer.  It begins with Geraldine Granger's arrival as the new vicar of Dibley Parish and follows the blossoming romance between Hugo Horton and Alice Tinker, culminating in their wedding.

Rebecca Neal, one of Centre Stage's accomplished young comedy actresses, was perfect as Geraldine Granger and Kelly Mepham was delightful as her Church Warden Alice, her mannerisms and way of expression in her voice just right and the perfect foil for her husband Adam Mepham in his role as love-sick Hugo ....... that first embrace and kiss was just so natural and, obviously, so believable!   Alan Barney portrayed the haughty and disapproving Parish Council Chairman, David Horton, very convincingly and was well supported by Andy Letcher as Frank Pickle, his bungling Parish Clerk, Tom Cross as blaspheming farmer Owen Newitt, who makes a play for Geraldine's affections, Bernard Sipple as stammering Jim Trott and Sue Almond, as the queen of cordon bleurgh..., Letitia Cropley, with her various knitted garments and hats and "tasteful" titbits!  Chris Hart completed the cast line-up in her heart-stopping moment as the objector at the wedding ceremony - wrong church, wrong bridegroom!

The performance was only mildly marred by the ever-present gremlins that seem to cause problems with the sound quality at this otherwise very well equipped venue.  In some scenes in Act I, the dialogue was difficult to hear clearly, particularly when the action was taking place towards the back of the stage set.  Fortunately, the script is so well known that the majority of the audience probably picked up on the gist of it anyway.  The clarity and volume significantly improved in Act II - had someone had a word?

In all other respects, this was a truly inspired performance by this talented team and hugely enjoyed by the supportive audience.  A special mention, too, for Daisy Webb's design for the programme in the guise of the Dibley Parish Council Newsletter, with the Headline "New Vicar in town!.  Well done!

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