The Vicar of Dibley - Easter Bunny

‘The Vicar of Dibley – The Easter Bunny’ is based on an episode of the hugely popular comedy sitcom starring Dawn French and Emma Chambers, written by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer. 

Set in the fictional Oxfordshire town of Dibley, it features Geraldine Granger, the recently appointed female vicar, and the hilariously eccentric residents who live there.  We hear the familiar theme tune Psalm 23 from the sitcom, and as the curtains open, Geraldine is with her verger and friend Alice Tinker, a rather naïve young woman with a lilting west country accent.  It is Lent and Geraldine and Alice are having a conversation about the existence of the Easter bunny.  Alice tells Geraldine, who is a newcomer to the village, that anyone who questions the existence of the Dibley Easter bunny would invoke the ’ancient curse.’    

The curtains close and while the cast are moving the furniture for the next scene, we are treated to a performance from the ladies of the ‘Dibley Women’s Institute’ ably led by Daphne Winterbottom-Smith (aka director/producer Andrea Hall) and a host of sexually repressed housewives (and one spinster of the Parrish) all with euphemistic sounding names. Coral Flange (Sandra Colman) treats us to a solo rendition of ‘Month of May’ from Camelot with the rest of the ladies providing ear bleeding out of tune backing vocals trying uproariously to upstage each other.  They also bring out a maypole and proceed to dance around it with hilarious results as a miffed Coral sabotages the ribbons with her scissors. 

Back to Dibley and a change of scene and we now meet the rest of the weird and wonderful villagers who are holding a Parish Council Meeting sitting around a long table.  Each cast member is a well-observed caricature from the TV series.  

Jim Trott (Robert Green) has all the dithering indecisiveness of the character and the catchphrase ‘No, no, no yes.’ Frank Pickle (Jon Molson) is a pretentious dapper gentleman wearing a bowtie who has a secret that he dare not share with his neighbours.  Letitia Cropley (Jean Taylor) is a slightly absent-minded lady who has a passion for knitting and creating weird wacky recipes - for example pancakes ‘with a hint of liver.’ Owen Newitt is a bluff no-nonsense farmer who always has a tale about the exploits of his farm animals which usually involves swearing and innuendo and Councillor David Horton (Ian Clark) the pompous Chairman and spokesman of the group and his son the very drippy love-sick Hugo (Henri Garraway).  

The subject of the enigmatic Easter Bunny is raised, and Geraldine is told the truth.  It is a secret identity unknown to anyone in the village, and a tradition passed on for many years.  Geraldine turns the discussion around to what the villagers are going to give up for Lent suggesting something that reflects their own personality flaws or vices.  Owen must stop swearing, David has to be nicer to everyone, Letitia needs to make food that is edible without bizarre ingredients, Frank needs to not be such a fuss pot about taking minutes and Jim has to stop dithering and saying “no, no, no yes.’  When Geraldine herself is told she must has give up chocolate she is mortified suggesting hopefully that she gives up bubble baths instead, but it doesn’t work. She is exposed as a chocoholic even having bar of chocolate secreted in her bible.   The penalty for failure is a £1 donation which will go towards a video club.

Each time we have a scene change we are treated to another wonderful skit from the WI Ladies including a display of Easter Bonnets with a ‘Resurrection’ themed hat featuring a pop-up Jesus, a spring hat sponsored by the mattress company and one with a rabbit surrounded by food called ‘Fifty Shades of Hay.’

In the next scene, we realise that Hugo has a huge crush on Alice as they greet each other with endearing embarrassment.  Hugo tells Geraldine that his vice is thinking about ‘IT’ and in a hilarious scene filled with double meanings, poor Hugo is forced to contribute several pounds to cover his carnal immoral thoughts. The end of the scene showing an oblivious Alice innocently sucking on a chocolate finger while Hugo squirms in embarrassment was hysterical.

Another scene change, and this time the ladies, bedecked in jingling bells, treat us to some Morris dancing bashing sticks and waving hankies in time to the music.  The ladies (with their tongues firmly in their cheeks) scowled and elbowed each other while grinning with false smiles at the audience leaving one unfortunate member to be left without a partner.  Fantastic!

Back to Dibley, and all the committee members are trying their hardest not to incur a penalty. David is especially funny tempting Geraldine with copious amounts of chocolate, his demeanour as sickly sweet as the chocolate treats he is bearing.  All except poor Hugo who has been fantasying about Ann Robinson and has to chip in even more money! Even Letitia herself has made some orange juice which, as they nervously test it, realise it is just orange juice which is completely out of character for her.  

Back at home, Geraldine is watching TV and sees a ‘flake’ advert which just adds to her anguish over giving up chocolate and she bitterly calls the villagers ‘chocolate stuffing gits.’ Alice answers the telephone, and we realise that Letitia is gravely ill and asking for Geraldine.  What does Letitia want and just who is the Easter bunny?  

Rebecca Sylvester played the part of the vicar, the only sane member of the committee, like a bemused Alice in Wonderland surrounded by a maelstrom of madness.  She created her own character but kept in certain recognisable mannerisms that reminded us of Dawn French for example her almost breaking of the 4th wall when she realises the naivety of Alice and some of the other villagers.  Her scenes with Alice Tinker were brilliant talking to her with the patient parental tone of voice you’d use on a child. I loved the last scene where she told Alice the traditional end of show joke only to have to sheepishly admit that it didn’t really work when Alice didn’t get the punchline.

Jo Fitzwilliams was incredible as ditzy Alice Tinker she could almost have channelled the spirit of the late Emma Chambers such was her well observed performance.  Every roll of her eyes, stretch of her mouth and twist of her cardigan was pitch perfect and the accent was spot on.  Her scenes with Hugo were wonderful as she innocently inflamed his passions. 

The villagers were excellent, each exhibiting the mannerisms for their individual characters. You must have all watched a lot of episodes to produce such well observed portrayals!  I was especially impressed with Marino Jackson as foul-mouthed Owen Newitt. Dressed in wellies he created another well observed character suggesting raunchy additions to the video night collection and his witty observation ‘It’s like Watership Down.’   Ian Clark as David Horton gave just the right amount of sarcasm to his role.  I liked his squirming embarrassment when he suspected that Hugo might be ‘a homosexual’ as he spelled out ‘John Inman’ to the bemused Geraldine. 

Henri Garraway as Hugo was very good and his scenes with Alice hilarious showing good comic timing and physical comedy. His embarrassment at having to contribute even more money to the Lent Box, especially at the end when he had been watching ‘Basic Instinct’ were really funny.

A huge special mention to the incredibly funny Dibley WI Ladies, with an in-house written script, they entertained us in a masterclass of scene changing.  The most hilarious were their bright yellow T shirts stating ‘Dibley WI do it in church Halls’ and the synchronised swimming to the ‘The Blue Danube Waltz’ which had the audience and me crying with tears of laughter

The set was simple but used very well, consisting of a settee covered with a brightly coloured crocheted blanket and a desk with a telephone. The Parish Council room had a simple table and chairs positioned so that each character could be clearly seen.  The scene with Letitia on her death bed was very well done with a simple chair for Letitia as Geraldine crouched next to her and at the side the remaining characters shuffled and comforted each other as they waited anxiously for news.  

Costumes were appropriate for the characters. Rebecca’s costume was a black high buttoned shirt with ‘dog collar’ but included a selection of different coloured long length cardigans (the last one concealing a multitude of chocolate bars!) to add a feminine touch. She also wore a short page boy style wig reminiscent of Dawn French.  Jo as Alice Tinker wore a long skirt, and red cardigan with daisy buttons, she also wore a blonde wig which had tiny rabbit clips in to reflect the childish immaturity of her character. The highlight of course was all the cast dressed in full bunny costumes as they shared their tips on how to make the best outfit.  David Horton observing that a wire coat hanger worked best while Owen said he had got his from a real rabbit.

All in all, a hilarious night’s entertainment and an affectionate version of a well-loved classic.  The pace was fast with bantering between the characters and the jokes were very well delivered. Due to the intimate small venue, every word of dialogue was crystal clear.

Well done to Andrea and her amazing team for working so hard and within the confines of a very small stage area - I was quite worried that one of the enthusiastic ladies might tumble over the edge!  These inventive scene changes were a definite highlight of the show.  It was lovely to meet Andrea, Sandra, Jo and Rebecca and some of the Dibley Ladies after the show.  Well done!  Now, go treat yourselves to a slice of cake (with a touch of anchovy) in memory of dear Letitia.

© NODA CIO.  All rights reserved 

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.