The BBC’s hit
comedy series The Vicar of Dibley takes to the Rangiora Town Hall this
summer in a fantastic theatrical adaptation, and I had the lucky opportunity to
get a sneak preview.
The play takes the
form of three acts, each containing one of the most-loved of the series’
episodes. The first is “The Arrival”
where we, and the members of Dibley parish, get to meet Ang Reeves’ humourous
incarnation of Dawn French’s classic character, the Reverend Geraldine Granger,
“a babe with a bob cut and a magnificent bosom”.
“The Arrival” introduces
us to a troupe of wonderful characters – director Dimitri Gibara and his cast
have created a terrific homage to some of the best characters from British
television, from dithering Jim to pedantic Frank to nymphomaniac chef Laetitia. Special mention must be made of Cate Bleddyn
- in her first stint on stage, Bleddyn brings the delightfully dim Alice to
life, playing the character with a charming ditziness.
The play moves
seamlessly from act to act, bridged by the traditional exchange of a joke
between Geraldine and Alice. “The Easter
Bunny” and “Winter”, the second and third acts, delight as much as the first,
with the final scenes of the Dibley Parish Nativity Play an absolute highlight
of the show.
The actors are all
clearly well-versed in the ways of comic timing and have a firm grip on their
characters, having evoked the essence of the originals while still making them
their own. It is the success of the cast
that makes the transition from screen to stage so smooth.
The Rangiora
Players are to be commended on another successful comedy!
The Vicar of Dibley runs from the 23rd November to
the 26th at the Rangiora Town Hall. Tickets are available through the
Rangiora Players' website or
through John Harrington Showcase Jewellers on High Street, Rangiora (cash
only). Performances start at 7.30pm with a 2.30pm matinee on the
Saturday. Tickets are $20, matinee is $15.
Director: Dimitri Gibara
Starring: Ang Reeves, Cate Bleddyn, Terry Livingstone, Scott
Morrow, Geoff Kendall, Mark O’Connell, Peter Edwards, Ruth Savage, Graham
Clewer and Easwaran Krisnaswamy
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