REVIEW: The Vicar of Dibley
(Christmas Lunch & Winter)
Chelmsford Theatre Workshop – The Old Court Theatre
Friday December 8th 2023
Directed by Kat Tokley & Rob Whitfield
What a pleasure to see The Old Court Theatre bursting at the seams with a full house which had been the same for almost the whole fortnight. The excitement of the audience looking for a Christmas show rather than a panto and the smell of mulled wine being served gave us all the excuse we need in these dark times to enjoy a great night out. With the lit Christmas tree in the foyer this was an excellent choice for this theatre company.
Kat Tokley and Rob Whitfield, the Directors, had worked their magic to transform the stage into two different areas. One the home of the Hortons and the other Geraldine’s home. Later in the second play the area was transformed into a stable for the Nativity scene. Excellent dressing of set and great props made this feel you were there with them. The backstage crew led by Dave Corder worked tirelessly, especially in the first show, changing the different homes for Geraldine’s three dinners.
The first show, Christmas Lunch, is a hard one to direct as the flow of the many scenes means a stop start feel, but Katherine and Rob cleverly used the children to sing in front of the thrust. Geraldine (Julia Stallard) was super in her improvisation, talking to the audience whilst the backstage crew got on with their sterling job.
This production was expertly directed and the casting was really well chosen. Without exception, all gave very accurate portrayals of their television counterparts. As these characters are so well known to people of a certain age this was a triumph for the directors as you could see from just how much work had been done.
Julia Stallard as Geraldine Granger gave a simply wonderful performance. Here was an actress who really understands the role, with great attention to detail and excellent comic timing, she was outstanding. With such a demanding role being on stage all the time she commanded the audience with her presence and was totally believable.
Alice Tinker/Horton (Charlotte Gant), was a complete joy. Great West Country accent and although a little quiet right at the beginning came into her own, was delightful as the naïve, gullible and lovable Verger. Her mannerisms and shyness were all delivered incredibly well.
David Horton (Alan Edwards) is the bombastic, privileged Chairman of the Parish Council. He always has to be right in his over bearing manner and shuts down anyone else’s ideas. Alan is a stalwart member of any play that he is in and really got to grips with this role.
Jim Trott was in the first week played by Rob Whitfield who had to step in when Mark Preston caught Covid. I was pleased to see Mark back doing what he does best as the comedic bumbling Jim Trott – no, no, no, yes! Frank Pickle (Richard Pennicard) , played with understated humour was the excellent pairing to this duo and together made the audience laugh out loud.
Hugo Horton (Maxwell Rose-Rogers) was delightful and in the first show too shy even to kiss Alice and in the second fainting at the sight of Alice giving birth in the stable. Dominated by his father he gave the audience the chance to root for him. The team work that was built during rehearsals between him and Alice definitely worked as they really did seem a couple.
The cameo performances of Mary Tinker (Abigail Hunt) as the dim sister of Alice who thinks its Easter with her bunny ears at Christmas and Mrs Tinker (Sue Tokley) with grey fuzzy wig, grey socks and pearls were both excellent. I think Mrs Tinker with her ‘Were you’ got the most laughs of anyone on stage.
Bursting through the door with incredible stage presence was Andrew Raymond as Owen Newitt, here was the local farmer secretly lusting after Geraldine and totally brilliant in the role. This was an accomplished comedic performance; I hope to see more of him on stage in the future.
Tristan Campbell (Ben Maytham) and his fiancé Aoife (Sarah Rumble) were the pair who wanted to be married by Geraldine. Both gave very competent performances, adding to the joy of the production.
The Youth cast that came on and off during the show were all incredibly well behaved and should all be very proud of their acting abilities and singing on stage. Well done all of you.
Lighting and Sound were excellent and the lighting around the stable added to the scene. Costumes were excellent. I especially loved the red waistcoat with Happy Birthday Jesus on it and the splendid angel wings on Geraldine’s outfit got their own round of applause. The Nativity scene costumes were also good with the fun camel hobby horses. It was pointed out to me though that Geraldine never wore her dog collar which in all the series she always does. Just a little extra which would have been nice to have seen.
This was an excellent evening’s entertainment, giving us all a real treat to start the Christmas festivities. We loved watching this show and thank you for the refreshments offered by the great front of house staff. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and happy New Year.
Christine Adams Davidson
MARRIAGE BUREAU: The true story of Britain’s first dating agency
Starting Tuesday 31st January, CTW is debuting a brand-new play, MARRIAGE BUREAU, by Essex-based TV and radio dramatist and author Richard Kurti, based on the book of the same name written by Mary Oliver, the young entrepreneur behind Britain’s first dating agency.
Marriage Bureau runs from 31st January to 4th February 2023 at the Old Court Theatre in Chelmsford.
A TalkBack Q&A with Richard Kurti, the cast and crew will take place after the performance on Friday 3rd February (last few tickets remaining!) and Richard will also be attending the opening night on the 31st, followed by drinks in the Old Court Theatre bar.
More details and tickets are available via https://ctw.org.uk/marriage-bureau/ or click on the Ticketsource link below to go direct to the purchase page.
Aided by her business partner Heather Jenner, the 25-year-old pair opened Britain’s first Marriage Bureau in Bond Street on 17th April 1939. Mary wrote her memoirs of the Bureau’s early years in 1942, detailing its inception, their many clients and stumbling blocks along the way. Her detailed, first-person account veers from fondness for her clients to hilarious, snippy criticism; but sadly, most likely through wartime paper rationing, the book was never republished and disappeared into obscurity.
Kurti (Terry Pratchett’s Going Postal for Sky TV, I, Robot, The Martian Chronicles and Mahabharata Now for Radio 4) stumbled upon the book in 2016 as part of research for another project and was inspired by Mary’s witty and acerbic account of match-making in wartime London. Despite the decades between them, she and the Tinder generation clearly had a lot in common and Kurti resolved to make her voice heard by the 21st century. The book was republished, with new material from Richard in 2021.
Chelmsford Theatre Workshop is no stranger to staging new plays by upcoming and established writers – But how did Marriage Bureau find its way to Chelmsford?
Marriage Bureau’s director, Helen Quigley, has been involved with CTW for nearly twenty years, so when submissions opened for the 2022-2023 season, Helen had one play in mind: “I’ve worked with Richard on several radio dramas for the BBC and Audible, so when he asked if I’d narrate the audiobook, I got to know Mary and her clients very well. From there, it was clear to me that the Old Court should be the play’s first home. CTW’s Marriage Bureau will be the first “workshopped” version of the play and the amateur theatre premiere.”
Richard says, “Helen’s reading of the audiobook was so spot on, it was clear she had an instinctive understanding of the source material, so when she suggested directing the premiere of the stage play at CTW, I was delighted. CTW is overflowing with talent and experience, and the passion they bring to their productions is evident in their successful and ambitious shows. Mary and Heather would be delighted to be in such good hands!”
CTW 