Confetti and Chaos
Interactive Theatre International have toured The Faulty Towers Dining Experience, their homage to the iconic BBC comedy series Fawlty Towers, around Australia and across the UK for many years now, so it is logical to branch out and devise a new work, Confetti and Chaos.
It follows the formula of its sister show; the production is a three-course meal with the show playing around the audience, except this time the premise is a ‘surprise’ wedding experience, where the wedding party interact with the audience as part of the performance that uses the whole space as their stage.
Being an audience member in Confetti and Chaos feels a lot like being dragged along as a plus one to a real wedding. At the start of the evening, I didn’t know anyone at my table, but as the evening progressed and the stories and secrets of the wedding party are revealed, we all soon felt at home and revelled in the fun.
There are plots and sub plots, all cleverly played by four actors – Tiggy Duchense, Monique Lewis-Reynolds, Jack Newell and Matthew Robson who clearly are extremely comfortable playing multiple roles and up close and personal situations.
In commedia del arte style, the production contains everything from slapstick to song to innuendo. The characters seem endless and varied – Stacey the Bride (also the hotel functions manager and the Groom’s Mother), Will the Groom (and Marvin the waiter complete with blond mullet and a limited knowledge of Sir Elton John) , Ricky the Best Man (and Father of the Bride) and Lyn the Mother of the Bride (and the social influencer Aunt).
Played in a symphony of pink and purple tulle decorations, the backstories just keep coming and complicating what should be a joyous occasion for the Bride and Groom. Some highlights are; the best man unknowingly taking drugs and losing his inhibitions and most of his clothes, the Aunt and the Mother of the Groom’s songs, the fake wedding cake, and the ownership of the bride’s grandmother’s ashes. However, with a few moments of seriousness, the evening finishes on a happy note.
The script is tight and the audience are never left bored with complication after complication evolving before their eyes. Also impressive is the cast’s ability to ad lib when necessary. They clearly have a number of stock ‘ad libs’ but this is never evident on the night. I did detect a moment when one of the cast briefly ‘lost it’ and had a quiet private laugh though. A new ad lib had clearly been invented by a member of the cast.
There are also a number of topical references that ensure that the production feels ‘personal’ to the audience.
Special mention to the staff of the Adelaide Royal Coach. Their service is impeccable and their food is excellent, which makes the evening even more entertaining. There were many compliments floating around our table and many food selfies being taken.
Confetti and Chaos is a laugh packed, zany two hours of immersive fun that will have you screaming and clapping along when you aren’t tucking into some delicious food!
Barry Hill OAM
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