Ad disclosure: We were provided with press tickets for the purpose of this post.
Yesterday evening, James and I attended the opening night of Fawlty Towers – The Play at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham. Currently touring the UK following a successful run in the West End, this stage adaptation of the 1970s TV hit by John Cleese of Monty Python fame is sure to entertain audiences wherever it goes.
Adapted for the stage by John Cleese himself, the original creator and star of the TV series, this reimagined version includes all of the main characters that viewers know and love, along with many of the hilarious catchphrases and idiosyncrasies of the original.
Danny Bayne steps into John Cleese’s shoes for the evening and does a marvellous job portraying Basil Fawlty as the slightly snobbish, often infuriated, and always ridiculous hotel owner. They are big shoes to fill, and while no one could truly match Cleese’s iconic performance, Bayne comes impressively close. He brings great expression and excellent comic timing to the role.
Sybil Fawlty is played by Mia Austen, who delivers a strong performance as the true authority of the hotel. She keeps Basil in line with just a word, supported by a brilliant range of facial expressions and gestures. The daft but well-meaning Manuel – he’s from Barcelona! – struggles with English, causing chaos and confusion. He is utterly endearing and definitely my favourite character. Hemi Yeroham captures the accent and mannerisms perfectly.
Other familiar faces also appear on stage, including Strictly Come Dancing’s Joanne Clifton as hotel assistant Polly – arguably the only sensible character in the entire production. Long-term guests the Major, and “the ladies” Miss Tibbs and Miss Gatsby, also play their part in the unfolding mayhem.
The play cleverly weaves together the plots and characters from three of the original twelve episodes – The Hotel Inspectors, The Germans, and Communication Problems. This provides more than enough narrative for the one and a half hour of stage time.
All the magical ingredients that made Fawlty Towers such a success on screen are present here, including mistaken identities, eccentric characters, and perfectly timed physical comedy. Manuel’s constant confusion combined with Basil’s rude impatience creates pure comedy gold. Nothing ever seems to go right for poor Basil – although many of his problems are of his own making – as everything spirals into total chaos by the end of the play.
The set is expansive and detailed, with the lobby and dining room opened up to the audience. It feels as though the original TV set has been lovingly recreated on stage, with clever adjustments to suit the live format. Characters come and go through multiple doors, dash up the stairs, and one of the upstairs bedrooms is even visible. Of course, the infamous sign from the opening credits is present – and just as (in)correct as ever.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the performance, and the rest of the audience seemed to as well, judging by the constant laughter throughout the theatre. It’s a lively and affectionate tribute to a much-loved classic. We give it four stars.
Fawlty Towers – The Play is at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham until Saturday 21st March, before continuing its UK tour throughout spring and summer. Tickets start from £23.95, and the show runs for just under two hours, including an interval.
