The Chameleons’ Vicar Of Dibley production in July raised £255 for The Neo-Natal Intensive Care Baby Unit (NICU) at Southampton General Hospital.
We raised money from tickets sales, programme sales, audience contributions in the charity buckets and the raffle. This is our nominated charity for the year who will also benefit from the proceeds of The Ladykillers, which we look forward to performing in October.
The Vicar of Dibley: Tickets sold out
The Vicar Of Dibley was skillfully directed by Marilyn Dunbar, one of The Chameleons’ award winning actresses.
The play proved a real hit with our audiences and all the cast thoroughly enjoyed bringing Dibley’s much-loved characters back to life on stage in the Ritchie Memorial Hall.
Tickets sold out a month before opening night with many of our audience having bought their tickets before the Box Office opened to the public.
Subscribers to The Chameleons’ Newsletter receive early notification of forthcoming shows and are offered the opportunity to book tickets in advance of sales to the public. An opportunity to subscribe to the Newsletter can be found on the home page of Chameleon Theatre Company website.
My role as the rather unpleasant David Horton
I enjoyed playing the role of the thoroughly unpleasant and arrogant David Horton, Chairman of the Parish Council, who sets out to achieve his own ends at the expense of all and anyone who stands in his way.
Of course, Geraldine Granger, Dibley’s first female vicar sensitively played by Mikki Jenman, secured the full support of the Parish Council led by the vulgar farmer Owen Newitt who’s base sense of humour was brilliantly portrayed by Wayne Bradshaw.
A vote was taken at the Vicar’s first Parish Council meeting when it was decided to keep her on, despite David Horton’s protests and threats to get her suspended by writing to the Bishop who appointed her in the first place.
Geraldine’s commitment to the village eventually won David Horton over and at the very end of the play he begs her to re-consider taking up an appointment in Liverpool and stay on as The Vicar of Dibley.
Oh! Alice Tinker!
Ali Wineberg, who played Alice Tinker, captured Alice’s dim-witted personality and childish view of the world beautifully. In fact, backstage we giggled at the comment that it was difficult to spot where Ali ended and Alice begun!
Several diets went out the window during play week as the cast were forced to consume vast quantities of chocolate during Lent when David Horton pressured Geraldine to give up her favourite snack!
The Chameleons’ October production: The Ladykillers
The Sunday morning after the final performance found the cast and backstage back at The Ritchie Hall dismantling the set and returning the stage and Hall to normal for all the other users who hire the premises during the week.
Taking the set down is always tinged with sadness after the excitement and fun of the week’s production run but the following Tuesday, first rehearsals were held for the October production, The Ladykillers to be directed by Liz Strevens.
The Ladykillers
The Ladykillers is a specially adapted stage version of a classic 1955 British black comedy from Ealing Studios, which featured a strong cast including Alec Guiness, Peter Sellers, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom and Danny Green posing as amateur musicians.
Professor Marcus and his gang rent rooms in the lopsided house of sweet but strict Mrs Wilberforce. The villains plot to involve her unwittingly in Marcus’ brilliantly conceived heist job.
The Ladykillers will be staged from Thursday 23rd to Saturday 25th of October. Don’t miss out – sign up for our Newsletter now!
For more details, visit Chameleon Theatre Company.
[…] the sell-out success of last month’s Vicar Of Dibley at The Ritchie Hall in Hursley Road, I’m pleased to report that rehearsals are underway for […]