Fawlty Towers: The Play

Review by James

⭐⭐⭐

Who doesn’t enjoy some nostalgia? It’s safe to say the audience packed into the New Wimbledon Theatre, that grand dame of the London stage, were ready for it by the bucketload as Fawlty Towers continues its mammoth nine-month tour of the UK. 

Fifty years on from its arrival on TV screens - and endless reruns on Gold, Dave, or whatever it’s called now - Fawlty Towers remains one of the UK’s most acclaimed sitcoms. Its revival for the stage by John Cleese took the West End by storm last year and there’s clearly life in the old girl yet. 

Quote-a-long films aren’t really my thing, let alone its theatrical cousin, but it’s hard to begrudge those deriving so much joy from joining in with the bedlam unfolding in Torquay’s most beloved establishment. 

The play cleverly combines three of the most beloved episodes into one storyline. I won’t ruin the surprise, but I’ll give you a clue - whatever you do, you still mustn’t mention Ze War! 

Wimbledon’s huge stage allows for an impressive recreation of the hotel and for the 18-strong ensemble to shoot in and out as the madness builds. 

The iconic escapades of Basil (Danny Bayne), Polly (Joanne Clifton), Major (the legendary Paul Nicholas) and Manuel (Hemi Yeroham) are a joy to behold. The mannerisms and idiosyncrasies of each character are all uncannily accounted for (it seems as if the original cast has been cryogenically frozen and reanimated in south London), and the warm glow of memory lane builds as the farcical plot lines interweave into its brilliant chaotic finale. 

It feels as though these legendary moments in British comedy were always destined for the stage, but it undeniably treads the line of unoriginality. It’s a shame John Cleese didn’t embrace the opportunity to update the abundance of material with some contemporary references, but perhaps that’s the whole point. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.