Fawlty Towers The Play Review

Adam Jackson-Smith as Basil Fawlty

It’s one of the most iconic BBC sitcoms of all time and now you can see it live on stage. But does the stage show live up to its predecessor?

Fawlty Towers first appeared on our screens 49 years ago and ran for only two series from 1975-1979. Despite its short stint, the show has stood the test of time, and the ticket sales for Fawlty Towers The Play are proof of this. Known for its brilliantly clever writing, sharp wit, and John Cleese’s unmatched comic timing Fawlty Towers is one of the most successful TV shows of British History. Fawlty Towers The Play has been adapted for the stage by Cleese himself and incorporates three episodes from the original TV series – ‘The Hotel Inspector’, ‘The Germans’, and ‘Communication Problems’ into one coherent storyline. The script doesn’t seem to deviate too much from the original text and the performances from the cast feel almost identical to the much-loved characters that graced our screens nearly 5 decades ago.

The show opens with Sybil Fawlty’s iconic laugh, which Anna Jane-Casey mimics almost perfectly and the crowd goes wild. It’s obvious almost straight away that fans of the show will not be disappointed, they will get to see all the cherished moments from the original TV series live on stage. But is that all it is... a recycled version of its source material? By not adding anything new it means that some audience members seem to find it impossible to not shout out the punchlines before the cast deliver the lines themselves. When the audience is laughing before the joke has even landed, it can diminish even some of the best comedy writing.

Director Caroline Jay Ranger (Only Fools and Horses the Musical) does a great job of recreating the world of Fawlty Towers and I think it’s fair to say that the characters feel at home on stage - probably because it isn’t the biggest leap when the TV show was built as a theatrical farce. As previously mentioned Anna Jane-Casey is superb as Sybil Fawlty, Victoria Fox fits the role of Polly perfectly, even down to her mid-Atlantic accent and Hemi Yeroham is a laugh-a-minute as Manuel, the busboy from Barcelona. The standout however has to be Adam Jackson-Smith who takes on the role of Basil Fawlty. You would think it nearly impossible to find an actor who can step into Cleese’s shoes as the sarcastic, arrogant, and short-tempered hotel manager (sorry owner) but Jackson-Smith delivers an almost uncanny performance. Everything from his abrasive mannerisms to his passive-aggressive tone of voice - it feels like a young John Cleese could be in the room with us.

The play itself doesn’t have the strongest overarching storyline, which isn’t surprising when it is after all three episodes merged into one. It feels as though we just get a flavour of each without ever delving deeper into the plot or indeed seeing any character development. That being said if you’re looking for a trip down memory lane and 2 hours of nonstop laughter then get yourself down to the Apollo Theatre.

I can’t say that Fawlty Towers is going to bring in much of a new audience or transform the West End but you will certainly leave full of nostalgia and joy.