Photo Credit: Andy Abbott
A Guest Review by Karen Lisa
We all know and love The Vicar of Dibley from our TV screens in the 90’s, and from the moment the show started we knew that we were in for a real treat. All the actors had been very carefully chosen to perfectly portray the characters from the popular tv show, and along with their accents and fabulous acting skills we could immediately relate to them.
The show started with the passing of the elderly Vicar and the wonderful ensemble all playing choristers in Dibley with beautiful harmonies and soloists conducted by their hilarious, exuberant choir master. Here is where the real humour of the show began! The theatre was full, and throughout the show it was filled with giggles, chortles and real belly laughs as all the fantastic performers reminded us of what life was like in Dibley when a female Vicar arrived there.
Photo Credit: Andy Abbott
The kind hearted, chocolate loving Vicar played by Sarah Brodie had lots of very funny lines in the show and delivered them with perfect timing and humour. She worked tirelessly to keep all her parishioners happy and try to fit into village life in Dibley. Jess Hughes played the sweet, naive Alice Tinker who took everything literally and really didn’t understand the Vicar’s jokes, Jess brought lots of laughter to her role, perfectly portraying the Vicar’s verger.
Photo Credit: Andy Abbott
David Horton, the rather pompous head of the parish council played by Richard Ashby was commanding in his role trying to keep the parish council together and although he played a serious role he brought lots of laughter to the audience.His polite, slightly dim witted son Hugo played by Hugh Weller-Poley showed great stage presence and was lovable as he found his true love.
The other members of the parish council, Jim Trott played by Ash Seaborne again portrayed their characters perfectly with movements, body language and fantastic and hilarious dithering.
Photo Credit: Andy Abbott
Frank Pickle, the fastidious secretary of the parish council played by Phil Cockell got just as many laughs with his ad lib comments made when moving the furniture,as he did with his scripted lines and really made us laugh at the end of the show with the sign on his back.
Letitia Cropley famously known for her bizarre culinary combinations played by Julie Moss reminded me exactly of the lovely eccentric little old lady on tv and kept in perfect character throughout the show. Owen Newitt, the very literal talking, dirty farmer played by Danny Singleton had us laughing from his first entrance, his accent was spot on and he had a great rapport with all the other performers on stage with some very funny moments in the show.
Photo Credit: Andy Abbott
The static set worked really well as half the stage was designed to be the village hall where the parish meetings were held, and the other half was the Vicar’s house regularly visited by all the parishioners throughout the show. The cast members moved the furniture seamlessly which again brought us lots of laughs. The lighting was very carefully prepared so that the audience knew if we were in the village hall or the Vicar’s house and the props were also very thoughtfully added to the set.
Although there were a few opening night nerves, they had disappeared by the 2nd act and the audience really engaged with all the characters. I honestly felt like I was watching the tv show and listening to other audience comments. This was felt by a lot of people. There were many very funny moments in the show but I don’t want to spoil it for other audiences who will be as delighted as we were tonight.
BSEODS produce a play and a musical every year, and if you haven’t been to any of their previous productions then The Vicar of Dibley is a great place to start as you will not be disappointed.
The Vicar of Dibley runs until Saturday 26th September at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds – visit their website for more details and to book tickets.
