Prepare to laugh at a satire of rural, country living brought to life at the Mittagong Playhouse.
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The Highlands Theatre Group presents The Vicar of Dibley, the first 2017 show for the theatre company.
The theatre production stars Sarah Geary as the Vicar Geraldine Grainger and Kirsty Clancy as Alice.
This is Sarah’s first venture into theatre after a 19-year hiatus from performing.
“I’ve been involved in theatre since I was eight, my mother was a folk singer, so I was roped into what she was doing,” she said.
“I saw this as a fun way to spend my Saturday afternoons or something. I thought I only had a chance at a bit part at most, I certainly didn’t expect to get the lead role.”
Sarah auditioned for the play as she is a fan of the television series’ actress Dawn French.
“In the play, she’s the straight shooter and everyone else is a caricature,” she said.
“It’s a very funny ensemble show with caricatures who are way out there – it’s a pretty good satire of country living.”
You may recognise Kirsty from her most recent roles in 2016 performances of Murder on the Nile and Calendar Girls.
This is her 10th year performing in the Highlands, and said she continued performing because it was a compulsion.
“When I stop I’m miserable, I enjoy being in a place where you can create and provide people with a story,” Kirsty said.
“I think it’s important to have that, especially in a country town.”
Kirsty said she was finding the role of Alice very different to her other experiences in theatre.
“I’ve never played a role like Alice. I do a lot of character roles, but they’re usually extroverted, where Alice is the opposite to that,” she said.
“I’ve been watching the show and trying to get down the tongue twisters. Alice never matured beyond a child, she lives in a land of pop culture and TV, so I’ve also been watching the Teletubbies and kids shows to get into character, my kids love it.”
Kirsty’s husband used to be a minister, so she said she found The Vicar of Dibley to be like the church-version of The Office.
“It’s clever, funny, and each character will remind you of someone you know,” she said.
“I think it’s an interesting show because in some ways, not much has changed in 20 years [when it came out]. Having a female vicar and that fact that women can do things is still a shock.
“It also shows you the person behind the cloth, a person which people don’t usually get to see or want to see. It’s about tradition and those who break out of that and the balance between it all.”
The Vicar of Dibley will be performed May 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 8.00pm, and 2.00pm matinees will be held May 13, 14 and 20.
Book now at http://htg.org.au/ or call Destination Southern Highlands on 4871 2888.
