Faulty Towers The Dining Experience - Review
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be an extra on a popular TV show? That's exactly how I felt at the Faulty Towers Dining Experience, a show which provided lots of laughs, and a very entertaining night indeed.
For those who don't know, Fawlty Towers is a classic British TV sitcom based around impatient and hot headed hotel owner Basil Fawlty, sarcastic wife Sybil, and Spanish waiter Manuel. Basil tries to bring some class to his rundown hotel, yet continues to butt heads with his wife, employees and guests along the way.
Faulty Towers the Dining Experience is here for the 2022 Adelaide Fringe and let me start by saying the show was no letdown, it was one of the most memorable nights out I've had in a long time.
The evening was faultless from start to finish. A perfect trifecta. Easy carparking, 3 course meal, and an extremely entertaining show.
The laughs start at the door where I was greeted by Sybil who asks Manuel to seat me at table 8. Manuel was trying to get his head around why I would want to have dinner if I had already 'ate'. For those who don't know Manuel, he's the Spanish waiter who works at the hotel. He tends to have a little trouble with English and finds it hard to comprehend the simplest words. This was just the start, and it kept going from strength to strength.
The concept of the show which centres around the mishaps and misadventures that happen whilst serving dinner to guests is very clever. The audience becomes part of the show, which involves lots of interaction and definitely lots of laughs! It drew me in, especially how the characters had a close resemblance to the ones in the sitcom. I really felt part of it – just like an extra on the TV show. Even the other 'extras' caught in the crossfire of chaos were excited to be part of the action.
From Basil reluctantly throwing candles on my table 'here you go take this for ambience' to Manuel directed to serve nuts and bread to guests (he served like a tennis serve!) the antics grew funnier and funnier as the evening went on.
It was disorganised chaos as the soup and bread rolls were being served with gracious host Sybil trying to keep guests happy, her husband under control, and dealing with an alcoholic chef all the same time.
I really enjoyed how the show involved the 'real' waiters, and the very clever use of hotel space for creating havoc and mayhem - but more importantly the audience interaction and character improvisation was flawless and pure perfection. Even kids would love this without even seeing the sitcom.
Expect the unexpected, with Manuel making mistake after mistake, chased out the door by Basil threatening to deport him back Spain, and the challenges he faces with the language barrier. When Basil checks in on Manuel clearing the plates and asks 'are you finished' he says 'no I'm Spanish'. Some great one liners that are misinterpreted by Manuel into making so many mistakes creating bedlam as he tries do everything right, but always gets it wrong. If you're close enough to the entrance you'll even get the chance to eavestrop on Sybil's telephone conversation with her friend.
The characters work so meticulously well together and the script is very well written. A top quality professional show, Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is great value for money, full of belly laughs, and the three course meal is delicious, especially the soup! No pun intended.