Vicar of Dibley

What a joy it was to see an absolutely packed auditorium ready to enjoy our afternoon’s entertainment based on a beloved TV programme - Vicar of Dibley. I’m sure that a good number of the audience were a little sceptical as to how successful our amateur players could be … Well I’m very pleased to say that any doubts were quickly dispelled – it was an absolute hoot!  

Director Stuart Clements and his team worked magic this afternoon. Harcus Cooper’s ‘sets’ were excellent and worked wonderfully well. They were ‘realised’ without a hitch – giving us the full range of the Vicar’s home, the Parish hall meeting room, and the Church, as well as an additional stage to accommodate the ‘Pick-a-note Choir’, who were in full view for nearly the whole show. Daniel Richardson and his team delivered very effective lighting and sound levels. The venue was filled to bursting and good levels were maintained throughout the auditorium, not always the case in ‘community halls’.

Geraldine Granger – the Vicar – was excellently played by Tyler Nicholson. Suitably understated in relation to the larger than life characters that shared the stage. Smart and confident - and really the only ‘adult’ of the piece. She was the ‘glue’ among the randomness of her fellow players. Natasha Richardson playing Alice Tinker, who played the sweet and silly Verger, was a pleasure to watch. As was her one true love the ‘wet’ Hugo Horton, played by James Smith. Counsellor David Horton – James’s father - was convincingly delivered by Evan Barlow. Crispin Smith, while looking totally innocent, was convincing as the ‘innuendo’ driven character Owen Newitt. Last but not least Norman Holness, cast as Jim Trott, had the audience in stitches with the famous ‘no -no- no- no- no…..no’ line. It would be unfair not to mention Ian Butcher playing Frank Pickle, and Mizz Sanders as Letitia Cropely,  quirky committee members who completed a very able cast.

A very special splash of joy came from the excellent choir on the side stage, ‘Pick a Note’.  It all worked beautifully, so special congratulations to Steve Porter - Musical Director and his talented choir. 

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