Fawlty Towers review: Adam Jackson-Smith shines in this comedy classic

4.0 out of 5 star rating

Just like other television shows being adapted for stage performances, there’s often apprehension among fans about how well the original will be preserved. In the case of Fawlty Towers, these concerns were just as prevalent.

The play, penned by its originator John Cleese for the stage, maintains the original 1970s charm of the series, which the audience seems to relish without any modern updates or revisions.

Adam Jackson-Smith, who plays Basil on stage, will have you rolling with laughter. He skillfully combines the spirit of Cleese’s original Basil Fawlty while infusing his own unique touches and charisma into the character, resulting in uproarious amusement for the audience.

However, he’s certainly not working alone to make this production shine. The familiar characters from the classic sitcom and the palpable camaraderie among the actors create an enjoyable viewing experience for everyone.

Regardless of whether certain characters speak or not, their knack for seamlessly blending into the action guarantees a good dose of laughter from everyone involved.

After several months now on the West End, it’s evident that the performers have fully embraced their iconic characters Basil, Sybil, Polly, and Manuel at the Apollo Theatre. Each actor brings a unique touch to their roles, which resonates well with audiences who keep returning night after night.

The structure of the play isn’t traditional, as it presents a jumble of different scenes; however, the underlying theme is that there’s merely confusion and disorder dominating the establishment known as Fawlty Towers.

Based on three episodes (The Hotel Inspectors, Communication Problems, and The Germans), the play doesn’t introduce any novel plot twists or moments that would excite long-time viewers who are already familiar with the series. However, for newcomers, it could undoubtedly offer fresh laughs like never before, primarily due to the cast’s performances.

Although the audience gets a peek into each character’s struggles dealing with work-related stress at the hotel, there’s a lot more about them that you’d love to discover. Unfortunately, there’s just so much that can be covered in a two-hour stage performance.

In Anna-Jane Casey’s production, the character Sybil will continue to elicit laughter from viewers throughout, despite only appearing sporadically during the second half. Remarkably, even while hospitalized for an ingrown toenail, Sybil maintains her influence over the play, essentially orchestrating events behind the scenes. Despite its seemingly minor nature, Sybil’s presence remains central and prominent in the overall production.

Each character contributes their unique touch to Fawlty Towers hotel, and often it’s hard to decide where to look because chaos erupts from all directions. However, this unpredictability is more than compensated by the humor found in every moment, ensuring that you’re never bored about figuring out who to focus on next.

Caroline Jay Ranger, director of “Only Fools and Horses: The Musical”, emphasizes the significance of maintaining a sense of novelty for the stage, which is precisely what the revival of “Fawlty Towers” achieves. It does so by triggering nostalgia among the audience with its catchy theme tune and seamless camaraderie between the actors onstage.

Reading from a script might seem straightforward, but truly capturing the humor of an original series requires a unique talent. This cast, without a doubt, possesses that ability in every possible way.

1. If you’re a passionate admirer of the original show and eagerly anticipate its stage adaptation, rest assured, you won’t be let down. On the other hand, if you’re unfamiliar with Fawlty Towers, you’ll likely feel compelled to rush over to BBC iPlayer straight away to immerse yourself in the episodes following this performance.

In our “Going Out” segment, we have an abundance of theater performances waiting for you! Check out the top open-air theater productions, including the highly-anticipated shows “Stage/Fright” and “Inside No.9”. Don’t forget to read our review of the intriguing play “Two Strangers”. Moreover, we’ve got all the details on how to secure your tickets for these exciting events!

2024-09-02 12:04

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