The Vicar of Dibley (I don't give stars)
Mon, 31 July 2006, 03:20 pmstinger1 post in thread
The Vicar of Dibley (I don't give stars)
Mon, 31 July 2006, 03:20 pmAlas, again I am writing a review when the show itself has finished its season proper. Again I ask, what do I have to do to be invited to previews or first nights like Gordon Goodonyer?
Anyway, the headline I would give to this, the latest offering from Kalamunda Dramatic Society (KADS), if I gave headlines, is "Keeping Faith With the TV Series". That in itself is quite an achievement, since there is a world of difference between the way a television show and a live theatre production is scripted, so a degree of 'adaption' is inevitable.
For one thing, TV can cut quickly from scene to scene, whereas community theatre still tends to rely heavily on human stage crew to change scenes in either blackout or behind a closed curtain. On that score, the KADS crew must be complimented on the speed and efficiency with which they made the 20 odd scene changes over the 3 Acts.
For another thing, the popularity of a TV series relies heavily on the characterisations effected by particular actors. Therefore, the performance by a stage actor of a role made popular by a TV actor will always be compared, critically, with the latter. This is of course most unfair, although Jenny McCann certainly does a good Dawn French doing Geraldine Granger!
On the whole, the characterisations were very good, including (perhaps especially) those where the actors gave their own interpretation rather than followed the TV template. The same can be said for the set design. I think I would have preferred to have had a smoother story flow and less short scene changes, however the overall effect was, true to its origins, very funny and most entertaining.
stingerMon, 31 July 2006, 03:20 pm
Alas, again I am writing a review when the show itself has finished its season proper. Again I ask, what do I have to do to be invited to previews or first nights like Gordon Goodonyer?
Anyway, the headline I would give to this, the latest offering from Kalamunda Dramatic Society (KADS), if I gave headlines, is "Keeping Faith With the TV Series". That in itself is quite an achievement, since there is a world of difference between the way a television show and a live theatre production is scripted, so a degree of 'adaption' is inevitable.
For one thing, TV can cut quickly from scene to scene, whereas community theatre still tends to rely heavily on human stage crew to change scenes in either blackout or behind a closed curtain. On that score, the KADS crew must be complimented on the speed and efficiency with which they made the 20 odd scene changes over the 3 Acts.
For another thing, the popularity of a TV series relies heavily on the characterisations effected by particular actors. Therefore, the performance by a stage actor of a role made popular by a TV actor will always be compared, critically, with the latter. This is of course most unfair, although Jenny McCann certainly does a good Dawn French doing Geraldine Granger!
On the whole, the characterisations were very good, including (perhaps especially) those where the actors gave their own interpretation rather than followed the TV template. The same can be said for the set design. I think I would have preferred to have had a smoother story flow and less short scene changes, however the overall effect was, true to its origins, very funny and most entertaining.