Vicar of Dibley

No, no, no, no, no, YES!! Edenbridge players had a hit on their hands this week with "The Vicar of Dibley". It's nice to see a cast directed excellently by Julia Bennett and bringing out  good characterizations of the iconic cast of the TV series. All putting their own flair into them. When Rev Potter passes away in the middle of a service, the inhabitants of a small Oxfordshire village Dibley, all think the replacement will be another old man, with a Bible and bad breath. How wrong they were, they got a babe with a bob-cut and a big bosom. Geraldine Granger is a woman - yes, woman - who enjoys, a good laugh and a packet of  hob nobs, also a pop music loving vicar. The locals include the very dim verger Alice Tinker, (Rosie Newman-Bekkelund) David Horton (Peter Stevens) the pompous parish councillor, Hugo (Ben Talbert) his indecisive son, the incomprehensible Jim Trott (Martin Beaman), Frank the boring parish clerk (John Bateson), straight-talking farmer Owen Newitt (Darren Thomas) and terrible cook Laetitia Cropley (Doreen Clark). The play consists of three episodes, Arrival, The Window and the Weather and Engagement. This society were so brave to take a play with 35 scene changes, this did slow the play down significantly, mostly due to limited stage space. Small point, when using props on stage ie: whiskey already poured, then pouring it!  Julia Bennett directed her cast to a high standard indeed, all cast members were good on the uptake of comedy timing needed, especially Liz King (playing Geraldine Granger) sometimes her facial expressions were funnier than the lines themselves, well done to her.  As this was such an ensemble piece I'm not going to single out individual performances, as they all jelled together, to give us a very enjoyable evening. I'm always welcomed graciously by the ladies at Edenbridge  making my guest and I feel very welcome.

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