Brisbane review - The Vicar of Dibley: A Fun Night Out

By Lilian Harrington

Production: The Vicar of Dibley

Writers: Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer

Stage Adaptation: Ian Gower and Paul Carpenter

Company: Villanova Players

Director: Elizabeth Morris

Location: The Ron Hurley Theatre 28 Tallowwood St, Seven Hills Qld.

Season: 6- 15 February 7 30 pm and 2 pm (Friday /Saturdays/and Sunday mat)

Bookings: try booking/www.villanovaplayers.com /0423920832

Villanova Players have produced a popular comedy that is sure to bring in a local crowd especially The Vicar of Dibley fans! From the beginning opening sequence there was little doubt that Villanova Players had scored a hit. The auditorium was full of fans, many were seniors, who had enjoyed the popular TV series which had starred Dawn French, between 1994 - 2007. Laughter and chuckles were heard from the beginning as the audience were entertained by the quirky characters with their weird habits, traditional, unbending, stereotypical attitudes, stuttering mannerisms, and costume choices e. g .Letitia’s tea -cozy hats.. This production, which is a stage adaptation of the British TV series, kept the audience awake and waiting for the next punch line, as they watched this madcap mob of misfits. This popular TV series, now adapted for stage, was initially inspired by the ordination of women in the UK, into the Church of England.

It was evident that director, Elizabeth Morris, has formed a cast with a good team chemistry, which helped carry the traditional British humor, attitudes and values, (as we have come to know them); along with the script, written in an earlier era, which delivered some very pointed sexist remarks against women and some very obvious prejudices typical of the times about women’s roles. There was feminist throw away lines and an overkill at times of slapstick action, between the simple, vulnerable, Verger, Alice Tinker ((Hannah Martin) and the love-struck Hugo Horton (Steven Eggington), which contrasted with the more worldly Vicar’s approach to life and relationships.

 Geraldine Granger (Alison Clark), the new female vicar in the small country parish of Dibley had a certain Dawn French like appearance, with a cheeky, warmth and good comedic timing, as she gradually immersed herself in parish affairs and proceeded to find ways of increasing the “flock’ from four to more, through her own initiatives and fundraising projects. Alongside the Vicar, David Horton (Robert Gettons), played the role of the conniving, prejudiced, chairman, with a despicable back -stabbing manner, not unlike some modern-day politicians. He contrasted well with Frank Pickle (Ian Stevenson) who was the pedantic and diligent parish secretary always at Parish Council Meetings, but who would not agree to anything that he disapproved of e. g. supporting Alice up the aisle; he signposted that he wasn’t her father.  A further quirky stand out character in this production was Jim Trott (Martin Sanders). His blubbering and confused way of getting his message across had the audience in fits of laughter.

Local community theatre companies especially in Australia and the UK, have responded well to the adapted stage versions of The Vicar of Dibley; the plays have a simple stage set with two scenes, set on stage. The church hall, where the frequent parish meetings are held, and the Vicarage, where there is a living room setting. There is a frequent switch between the meetings and the vicarage. The Ron Hurley Theatre has a wide stage which helped with this stage plan; The black curtained set gave some fluidity to entrances and exits, but it also meant that the chosen set plan, limited movements to some degree, along with a restricted lighting plan. However, this is good entertainment and a fun night out.