Adapted by Ian Gower
and Paul Carpenter from the TV series written by Richard Curtis and Paul
Mayhew-Archer
Directed by Jon Elphick
Tempo Theatre Inc.
Theatre@bcs,
Belconnen to November 5.
Reviewed by Len Power 28 October 2016
Tempo Theatre’s production of “The Vicar Of Dibley” is a
stage adaptation of the popular TV series that ran from 1994 to 2007. It is set in a fictional small Oxfordshire
village called Dibley, which is assigned a female vicar following the 1992
changes in the Church of England that permitted the ordination of women. The reaction of the staid members of the
church committee and the rustic townsfolk forms the basis of the comic
situations that unfold.
Adaptations of TV shows for the stage like this one give
audiences exactly what they want – an evening with characters they’ve grown to
love over a long period. Jon Elphick has
directed the show in a straight forward manner, keeping the pace up and
allowing his cast every opportunity to present a vivid set of amusing
characters.
Karyn Tisdell dominates the show as the vicar, Geraldine
Granger, capturing the warmth and humour of this woman very well. Kim Wilson is very funny as the pedantic
committee chairman, David Horton, and is matched every step of the way by Tony
Cheshire as the even more pedantic Secretary, Frank Pickle.
 |
| Tessa Franceschini and Karyn Tisdell |
Marian Fitzgerald gives a delightfully wicked performance as
Mrs Letitia Cropley with her horrific recipes and deftly plays the church organ
interludes as well. Jason Morton’s comic
timing gets him some of the biggest laughs as the coarse-mannered farmer with
marriage on his mind, Owen Nesbitt, and Jon Elphick is terrific as the
dithering Jim Trott.
As the young lovers, Sam Kentish gives a nicely comic
performance as the inexperienced lover and Tessa Franceschini almost steals the
show with her excellent performance as the dim-witted, Alice. Cheryl Browne and Garry Robinson give good
support in two very small roles.
 | |
| Back row: left to right – Jason Morton, Tessa Franceschini, Karyn Tisdell, Marian Fitzgerald, Jon Elphick Seated: Sam Kentish, Kim Wilson, Tony Cheshire |
The audience at the opening night gave the cast a rousing
reception. I have never seen the TV
series but, with a bit of eaves-dropping at interval, I ascertained that
audience members felt that the cast were successfully capturing the essence of
the TV characters and situations.
Whether you know the TV series or not, this is an enjoyable
show with some great laughs.
Photographs by Melita Caulfield
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 ‘Artcetera’ program from 9.00am on
Saturdays.
