THE VICAR OF DIBLEY

“The Vicar of Dibley”, a play adapted from the original TV series by Joyce Branagh, was a great choice of production for Sutton’s Green Hut Theatre Company.  As a member of the audience we were all playing members of the congregation of St Barnabas, and we were supplied with Orders of Service (programmes) and hymn sheets on arrival at “church”.

The Vicar, Geraldine Grainger, was confidently played by Alison Waters.  The vicar is the lynch-pin of the whole piece and Alison was impressive in this huge role managing to portray the enthusiasm, the warmth, the self indulgence, the comedy and the frivolity of the character superbly. 

David Knights took the role of the grumpy Council Chairman, David Horton, who disliked women priests and all the other council members.  The audience were certainly on Geraldine’s side when David was trying to get rid of her – the volume of “boos and hisses” made it quite clear that the audience were in favour of Geraldine remaining as Vicar!

James Jennings played the love-struck Hugo Horton who was infatuated with Alice Tinker played by Cassie Fonth.  Alice is the simple minded Churchwarden who loves the Tellytubbies – she is so gullible and lovable.  I loved the wedding of Alice and Hugo it was beautifully set with the Vicar on the stage and the wedding party on the floor of the auditorium facing her awaiting the arrival of the bride, who came outrageously dressed (complete with flashing headdress!) with two ‘Teletubbies’ in attendance, down the aisle of the auditorium!   

Jim Trott, (he of no,no,no,yes fame!) was played by Alan Senior.  His “best man speech” was hilarious and well delivered.  The part of Frank Pickle, the pedantic Council Clerk was convincingly played by Philip Boocock.  Vincent  Rolfe played the part of Owen Newitt.  He had great comic timing and managed to both repel and amuse with his cheeky behaviour.

Doreen Smith played Mrs Cropley, well known for her knitting and exotic recipes.  Thankfully we weren’t served anchovy and peanut butter, nor ham and lemon curd sandwiches for supper – but we were treated to a lovely ham, egg and cheese sandwich supper, along with homemade cakes in the interval – which gave it a real “church fete” type feel to the whole evening.

With 42 scene changes throughout the piece, my congratulations go to Bryan Blackie as stage manager, along with his team of stagehands, who all did absolutely sterling work to change the set as quickly as they did.

Many congratulations to Philip Smith as director, to the terrific cast and everyone involved in this excellent production.  It certainly gets a ‘No, no, no...YES’ from me!

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