ON WEDNESDAY evening, a Newport audience was taken to the village of one of the most well known vicars on television. This was the first night of Newport Playgoers Society production of The Vicar of Dibley.

Using original scripts from the series, the show took us from the day Geraldine Granger arrives in Dibley to the day she decides to leave. Interjected with numerous parish council meetings led by the stern Mr Horton, the set is split between the parish hall and the Vicar’s living room.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the stage version, but I think it’s fair to say it is a less of a play itself and more of an imitation of the television series. The actors were not only playing the characters, but playing them as the television actors play them, from accents through to mannerisms.

This shouldn’t deter from the fact there are a lot of very strong performances, demonstrating the close study undertaken by the actors on the characters.

But for me it was the bumbling Hugo and hare-brained Alice that stole the show. Their execution was brilliant and the comic timing ensured there was no disservice to the script.

Charming and reassuringly chaotic there were lots of laughs throughout both halves. Trimming ten minutes from the final act would have sustained the pace. But it was a charming production and for fans of the series, this will not let you down.

Running with an additional Saturday matinee performance, until Saturday November 16.