Vicar of Dibley Christmas

Last year’s Centre Stage production of The Vicar of Dibley proved so popular that it couldn’t have taken the society long to decide how to fill the same slot in their calendar this year.

Christmas celebrations are being discussed at the Parish Meeting and the decision is taken to stage a real live nativity.  This turns out to be more real than was first anticipated when Alice goes into labour at a critical moment in the proceedings. In an even more confused state than usual she begins to wonder if she has in fact just given birth to the Son of God! 

The cast made a wonderful job of bringing the well known Dibley characters to life. Becca Neal was the perfect Geraldine Granger and Kelly Mepham was quite amazing as the dippy verger, Alice Horton.  The dialect, the mannerisms, it was all there, and the rapport between these two characters was superb.

Alan Barney made a great job of reprising the role of David Horton and Mark Bolton was absolutely great as his clueless son Hugo.  Nik Hedges’ Owen could have stepped straight out of the TV show and Mark Ager was a very convincing Jim Trott.

Andy Letcher was great as Frank Pickle, ‘outing’ himself to the whole community via Radio Dibley and Giulietta Cianciola gave a good performance as Mrs Letitia Cropley.

The split stage depicting Geraldine’s study on one half and the village hall, set up for the parish meetings on the other, worked well. Also the use of the apron on stage right doubling as Geraldine’s kitchen table and Radio Dibley was a useful addition to the set.

Scene changes were slick and the transformation in the second act from furnished set to a barn ready for the nativity, was carried out with the minimum of noise.  Meanwhile the focus moved to Geraldine’s kitchen table where she was trying out some of her jokes on Alice who, as we know from the television series, never did get the punchline.  This made a great interlude. 

The pace, for the most part, was good.  The second half had the edge and by the end I just couldn’t stop laughing.

The audience has certain expectations when they come to see a show which is straight off the television.  The characters are so well known that the cast can’t afford to fall short of the mark.

Under Gemma Harrison’s skillful direction this did not happen and everyone was true to form.  With the inclusion of a Vet (who else could possibly attend a delivery in a stable!) and three lovely angels to complete the cast, this was a very good show.

Well done Centre Stage.  My colleague and I had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon

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