The Vicar of Dibley

Tea Tree Players have backed a winner presenting The Vicar of Dibley. The season was sold out well before the first night!

The play sits nicely in a cosy community theatre, giving the feeling that you are right there in the Parish Hall with Geraldine and her parishioners.

This stage adaptation, written by Ian Gower and Paul Carpenter adapted from the original TV series by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, takes its source primarily from the first two series of the show aired between 1994 and 1998. Series one consisted of 6 episodes and series two only 4 episodes, although some of the later episodes and specials have been referenced.

The Vicar of Dibley is set in the sleepy village of Dibley, where the elderly local vicar has just died and the parish council members, led by their pompous, opinionated chairman David Horton, are waiting to greet his replacement. They are definitely not expecting anyone like Geraldine Granger – ‘a babe with a bob cut and a magnificent bosom’! Nevertheless, kind-hearted, fun-loving Geraldine (aided by pea-brained verger Alice Tinker) sets out to win over the oddball inhabitants of Dibley while staying true to herself.

When choosing The Vicar of Dibley for the stage, directors are under pressure to recreate exactly the recognisable TV characters, stories and jokes. Director Robert Andrews casts well and gives us what we expect to see from the oft-repeated TV program.

Andrews also designed the composite set comprising the Parish Hall and the Rectory. As always Tea Tree Players deliver with a stunning set with a stone look for the hall and green wallpaper with wooden beams for the Vicarage, attractive and functional.

Andrews also selected the music. We are greeted with “The Lord is my Shepherd” at the opening of the play, immediately transporting us back to the 90s. Hymns are used to bridge the scenes. This device is so effective that I could hear the audience singing along, once again adding to the parish ambience.

Add to this sound design and operation by Mike Phillips, set construction led by Samuel Creighton, props by Beth Venning, scenic art by Damon Hill and costumes by Jo Allenby and The Monday Club and you have a visual and aural delight.

Dawn French may no longer don the cloth but Lesley Main is a worthy successor, giving us every nuance of Geraldine Granger. This is not an easy role as the Vicar is onstage almost the whole play. Main makes it look easy and has the audience right in the palm of her hand. I particularly enjoyed her scenes with Owen and her Holy Cross jumper.

She is ably supported by her verger Alice Tinker, aka Katie Packer. We wait for the Tinker trademark voice and hand movement and Packer gives us these accurately. If I closed my eyes, I could hear Emma Chambers iconic vocal tone. Her “I can believe it’s not butter” speech was perfection.

Alice loves and is loved by Hugo Horton (Adrian Heness). Heness uses his height to advantage and gives us a truly gormless wonder. His kissing scene with Alice was a highlight. Full marks for his many ties!

David Horton (Tom Moore) gives us quiet determination and the stuffiness we have come to expect from this character. I loved the chocolate scene.

Damon Hill’s Frank Pickle is pedantic to the extreme. His minute taking skills are legendary and Hill does not disappoint.

Tim Cousins has played Jim Trott for another company and inhabits the character. He is confident and nails every laugh with his famous “No, no, no, no…….Yes!” His best man speech was a crowd pleaser, having the audience in hysterics.

Jon Hudson is Owen Newitt in voice and mannerisms. The seduction scene with Geraldine is a riot as is his defence of swearing.

Cathie Oldfield’s Letitia Cropley is every chef’s nightmare with her famous combinations of food and constant knitting.

The cast is completed by Pat Lewis as a woman, Zack Brittan as Tinky Winky and Grainne O’Connell as LaLa.

The Vicar of Dibley may have stopped production as a TV series but it lives again at Tea Tree Players! Congratulations and I look forward to the ‘second coming’ next year!

Barry Hill