The Vicar of Dibley. By Ian Gower and Paul Carpenter, adapted from the TV series by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer. Directed by Jon Ephick. Tempo Theatre.Theatre@bcs, Swanson Street, Belconnen. October 27-November 5, 2016. 62752700 or canberraticketing.com.au.
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Fans of The Vicar of Dibley can shout "Hallelujah!". Tempo Theatre is presenting the official stage adaptation of the successful British sitcom at Belconnen Theatre.
Director Jon Elphick says, "Most people probably know the BBC series that started back in 1994 and ran until 2007 and there have been a few specials since then."
This is the first Canberra production of the theatrical adaptation that was first produced in Britain in 2011.
The Vicar of Dibley centres on the upheaval in the village of Dibley after Reverend Pottle dies at the age of 102 - "unexpectedly", Elphick says - and much to the villagers' shock his replacement is the Reverend Geraldine Granger (played by Karyn Tisdell). She's not what they expected - young, down-to-earth, fun-loving and female.
What follows is a process of adjustment and acceptance that goes both ways, for the villagers are an eccentric bunch, including the simple verger Alice Tinker (Tessa Franceschini) and the shy but enthusiastic Hugo Horton (Sam Kentish) who is on the parish council because his father David (Kim Wilson), an MP, is the chairman. David is the most strongly opposed to having a woman as vicar and Geraldine must work hard to try to win him over.
Also present are Frank Pickle (Tony Cheshire), the pedantic secretary of the council - "he takes the minutes and drives the others mad", Elphick says - and farmer Owen Newitt (Jason Morton), who's also a council member but spends most of his time with his livestock.
A much happier chap is Jim Trott (played by Elphick himself) and the final council member is Mrs Cropley (Marian FitzGerald), church organist, flower provider and experimental cook, maker of such delicacies as lard and fishpaste pancakes. Some members of the audience may get to sample her efforts during the show, Elphick says, "if they wish".
The stage adaptation focuses on events from the first two series of the show, dealing with Geraldine's arrival and settling in and playing matchmaker to two of the characters.
The first performance on October 27 will be a charity preview with all proceeds going to the ACT Cancer Support Group.
Tisdell is tackling her first straight acting role after many years performing in opera and musical theatre. Although she knows The Vicar of Dibley is a very popular show and people will have certain expectations, she says, "You can't copy exactly." And she feels comfortable in the role.
"I find it quite easy to do this," she say. A lot of people have compared to both the original star, Dawn French and Geraldine in her speech and behaviour, even before she cut and dyed her hair for the role (she's naturally a blonde).
"People say I look like her now, and I can see it a lot more now: I can see it in my mannerisms, even when I'm not trying to be!"
She enjoys the style of the show - "It's such a warm sort of humour" - and her mother is a lay minister with the Uniting Church which gave her some family experience of some of the issues involved.
"I grew up in Forbes - my mother was the conductor of the church choir," she says. That's where Tisdell got her start as a singer when she was about 10.
"Once they realised I had talent I took singing lessons and entered eisteddfods."
She studied opera at the University of Newcastle then moved to Sydney, living there for a decade performing in jazz and working in finance before moving to Canberra six and a half years ago for a change in lifestyle.
"I had a sister in Canberra who was always in musicals. Four days after I arrived I was cast in Jazz Garters 2."
Since then, she's done two or three shows a year and teaches singing and works in administration.
"I love it here."
