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Next production
The Sound of Music, 20th to 23rd February, 19:15 and 14:15 on Saturday
A heartwarming story, based on the true story of the Von Trapp Family singers, one of the world's best-known concert groups in the era immediately preceding World War II.
Maria, a tomboyish postulant at an Austrian abbey becomes a governess in the home of a widowed naval captain with seven children, and brings a new love of life and music into the home.
Where
John O' Gaunt College Hall, Priory Road, Hungerford RG17 0AN.
Tickets
Tickets from our web site or from
Crown Needlework, 115 High Street, Hungerford.
Tel: 01488 684011 - Credit and debit cards accepted.
Review of The Vicar of Dibley
7th to 8th June 2018
Review from the Newbury Weekly News.
Dibley revisited in sit-com nostalgia
Community of Hungerford Theatre Co: The Vicar of Dibley, at Herongate Centre, Hungerford, on Thursday, June 7, and Friday, June 8
Perhaps it's inevitable that TCOHTC would base their characters on those in the very popular long-running TV sit-com (1994-1998 plus 'specials' until 2007). Maria Hiscock produced a close replica of Dawn French as Geraldine Grainger, the vicar who comes to an Oxfordshire village that has the villagers from hell to deal with.
Roushka Westall was also impressive in her close approximation to the late Emma Chambers who made the part of Alice her own. So, too, with the other familiar characters; Tim Beckwith as David Horton, Guy Parkes as Hugo and Tessa Brown as Mrs Cropley all closely resembling, in appearance and voices, their TV counterparts.
Finding your own voice, character and mannerisms is important in a part, but I understand why director David Clayton attempted to recreate the characters familiar to the audience. Even to the extent of adding padding to costumes.
That said, the play got off to a flying start, the acting was spot-on all round and the laughter rang out in the theatre from start to curtain call. The jokes were lifted seamlessly from the series but it did, often, show up the age of the sketches – Gordon Brown as Chancellor of the Exchequer? Some of the jokes could have done with an upgrade too: "He was kissing a woman who wasn't his wife. Who was she? His mother." I'm surprised nobody said "boom boom" after that one.
And the long ramble about naming a road 'old road' 'nearly new road' and 'fairly new road', but with somebody suggesting 'Pratt's Lane' probably worked better on television if that is where it originated.
The Curtis/Mayhew-Archer scripts were adapted for the stage by Hoffi Munt and having five choirgirls and a choirboy dancing, singing and moving furniture and props between sketches was a clever touch.
Not so clever was moving table and chairs backwards and forwards through 34 short sketches; it might have been worth considering leaving the furniture in position and lighting the acting areas as required. It would still have left plenty for the animated choir to do.
But these are small niggles in what was a well-paced, very well acted show, in which every single character had a chance to shine – and did.
DEREK ANSELL
Previous Productions
The Vicar of Dibley, 29th September to 6th October 2018
Private Peaceful, 13th to 14th July 2018 at Hungerford Royal British Legion
The Gingerbread Man and Other Stories, 11th July 2018 at Herongate Leisure Auditorium
The Vicar of Dibley, 7th to 8th June 2018
Seussical Jr, 9th to 10th June 2018
Cats, 14th to 17th February 2018. See the review in the archive.
The Odd Couple, 22nd September 2017 at Great Shefford Village Hall
Much Ado About Nothing, 7th to 8th July 2017
Mack and Mabel, 15th to 18th February 2017. See the review in the archive.
Love Triangle 2, 1st October and 8th October 2016. See the review in the archive.
Goodnight Mister Tom, 17th to 20th February 2016. See the review in the archive.
Love Triangle, 24th October to 14th November 2015. See the review in the archive.
Spring and Port Wine, 11th to 12th June 2015. See the review in the archive.
Whistle Down the Wind, 18th to 21st February 2015. See the review in the archive.
Whistle Down the Wind, 5th to 6th December 2014
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, 31st July to 2nd August 2014. See the review in the archive.
The Wizard of Oz, 19th to 22nd February 2014. See the review in the archive.
Davy, 19th to 20th July 2013
Up Pompeii, 20th to 22nd June 2013
The Labyrinth, 16th to 17th May 2013
Fiddler on the Roof, 20th to 23rd February 2013. See the review in the archive.
Bedroom Farce, 12th to 14th July 2012
Brigadoon, 15th to 18th February 2012. See the review in the Archive.
The Likes of Us, 23rd to 26th February 2011. See the review in
the Archive.
The Dracula Rock Show, 10th July 2010 - a
Hungerford Children’s Theatre
production
The Cleaners, 10th to 11th June 2010 - a
Hungerford Youth Theatre production
Grimm Tales, 20th March 2010 - a Hungerford Young Performers
production
Carousel, 17th to 20th February 2010. See the review in the Archive.
A Cream Cracker Under the Settee, A Dog's Life,
Still Waters, 20th to 25th July 2009, in HADCAF
Robin Hood and Friends, 27th June 2009
The Love Nest, 28th to 30th May 2009
The Fate of King Minos, 28th March 2009
The King and I, 18th to 21st February 2009. See the review in
the Archive.
Down at the Old Bull & Bush, 7th to 8th July 2008
Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs, 5th July 2008
Love Begins at Fifty, 6th to 7th June 2008. See the
review in the Archive.
Blitz!, 20th to 23rd February 2008. See the review
in the Archive.
Gone With The Books, 21st to 22nd September 2007. See the
review in the Archive.
Romeo and Juliet, 7th July 2007 - a
Hungerford Children’s Theatre
production
Two Short Socks, 6th July 2007 - a
Hungerford Youth Theatre production
Hello Dolly, 14th to 17th February 2007. See the review in the
Archive.
Flower Drum Song, 15th to 18th February 2006. See the review in the
Archive.
Scheherazade, Tales of Arabian Nights, 8th July 2006
Anon, 30th June 2006, at HADCAF. See the review in the
Archive.
The Gut Girls, 6th to 7th June 2005
Annie Get Your Gun, 16th to 19th February 2005. See the review in the
Archive.
The Piper, Easter 2005 - a Hungerford Young Performers
production. See the review in the archive.