Faulty Towers The Dining Experience

There’s nothing at all faulty about Faulty Towers the Dining Experience; it’s a slick two hours of fun and fab food.

Not in any way linked to the TV show Fawlty Towers except, of course, by default through the characterisation of the three actors involved in this dinner show, Faulty Towers the Dining Experience is a product of the Queensland arm of Interactive Theatre International.

Guests are served by Sybil, Basil and Manuel, who begin the action in the upstairs bar area of the Strathmore Hotel’s Balcony Restaurant where everyone purchases drinks and waits to be seated by the three. Guests are immediately treated to, and whether they like it or not, involved in, the hilarious antics of these timelessly funny characters.

Characterisations by all three actors are fantastic, particularly that of hapless Manuel, who soon has forks dropping from tables and his usual style of hopeless mayhem unfolding, to the extreme frustration of an increasingly stressed Basil. Arguments occur ‘off stage’ in the kitchen, Basil’s goose-stepping happens and even Manuel’s rat gets a look-in. All the while, Sybil gently chides, chats and organises, plus lets rip occasionally with that signature throaty chuckle we all remember.

It seems no show is quite the same, because much of the dialogue is improvised.

I expected fairly un-inspiring food, as can occur with dinner shows, but while there’s a set three course menu, the food is excellent quality. Special dietary needs can be catered for.

Witty and hilarious action served with a tasty dinner; what more could one ask?

Just one warning though…don’t be late. Basil will not be amused.

Lesley Reed

Click here to read more Adelaide Fringe reviews.