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Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience
REVIEWER – CLAIRE ROGAN
The trepidation and excitement in the air was palpable on arrival at The Temple Bar for this unique theatre meal experience. No one seemed to know what to do bar getting a stiff drink and scanning the room for familiar characters. Luckily, everyone was soon herded outside to be announced and seated table by table and the night began.
The basic idea of this performance is that audience members take their places in the Faulty Towers Dining room and, as diners, we are witnesses and sometimes hapless participants in the improvised and scripted shenanigans that ensue. The restaurant becomes a stage and the action occurs while a three course meal is served.
Three of the Fawlty Tower's most loved characters - Basil, Sybil and Manuel - are there to serve, irritate and amuse the audience. They are just as amusing and slapstick as the original characters with Sybil (Alison Pollard-Mansergh) "oh I knowing " away on the telephone while Manuel (Tony Nixon) balances bowls of soup so precariously you are sure they may end up on your lap. Of particular note is Nigel Bell playing Basil
in a role he inhabits both through a natural resemblance and a remarkable countenance. It had never occurred to me how scary and bizarre a character he was but he is both, anointing himself as the
'Manners Police' and sneaking up on those diners that dared to flaut formal dining conventions.
Some of the highlights of the scripted pieces included a runaway Siberian hamster and a tussle over a betting slip. Sometimes the action spills out onto the pavement and nearby diners were treated to glimpses
of the show. This is challenging stuff for the actors and they remained in character throughout despite a number of testing guests, one of whom fondled Manuel's bottom during his search for the hamster which was possibly the interactive theatre too far. The performers' experience in dealing with the public
shone throughout: they judged audience participation well and did not push any shy participants beyond their limits.
The performance was so strong I almost don't want to mention the war but I must be fair to the paying public. Unfortunately, the Temple Bar Precinct was a bit of a letdown and in no way did the performance justice. The food was average and the ambience was not even close to right. It would be interesting to know what the other venue, Pumphouse, has to offer. I also wanted more characters in the cast - where was Polly and my beloved Major?
Overall though, Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience is satisfying, funny and unique and in a way the meal is just the icing on the cake. This is a must-do for fans of the iconic TV show: perfectly executed, excruciatingly funny and not nearly as cringeworthy as one might expect.
Dates
20th Mar - 13th Apr
Times
Temple Bar 20-23 & 28-30 Mar 7pm, Fri-Sun in Apr 7pm & 5,6 & 12 Apr Mat
12pm
Pumphouse 24-27 & 31 Mar 7pm, Mon-Wed in Apr 7pm
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