Review – Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience

From the moment you arrive in the pre-drinks room and you’re told to await being seated by Mr Fawlty, you know you’re in for a good night out.

Packed in to the Ambassadors Balcony restaurant the Faulty Towers Dining Experience is literally rolling in the aisles. Enjoy having your bread rolls thrown at you before the soup course, when the real fun begins.

Sybil Fawlty (Karen Hamilton), with her glorious head of curls and a spot on Sybil-laugh, does a wonderful job of keeping Basil in line. Just as Sybil was always the heart and soul of customer service, Hamilton perfectly interjects the performance with helpful – if not always appropriate – comments to the guests.

What I found truly impressive about Basil Fawlty (Benedict Holme), apart from the dead-ringer voice, was Holme’s excellent reproduction of John Cleese’s physicality. From the impressive floor aerobatics to the bulging eyes, Holme emulates the classic actor wonderfully.

And then we have Manuel (Anthony Sottile). Manuel was always my personal favourite in the original show, and that character shines right through this performance. Sottile does an excellent job at backchatting the Fawltys and being inappropriately close with the guests. He elicits great peals of laughter, as well as the right amount of sympathy when Mr Fawlty is a touch too mean.

2014 is the 17th anniversary of the show, and this experience pays off. The performance overall is expertly balanced – any more interaction and it would be tedious; any less and it wouldn’t seem complete. The set-ups and punch lines are directly reminiscent of the classic, so old-school fans will love it for that and first timers will think it comedic gold!

With a dinner and a show one worries about the dinner portion and the potential for average food. However, there is no need because the Ambassadors chef does an excellent job on the three-course meal and you won’t leave hungry.

I would go again next year, and I would recommend that anyone with a fondness for interactive theatre or the original series go along and have a laugh. Everything will be fine – just don’t mention the war!