Formed in Brisbane in 1997, Interactive Theatre Australia have delighted thousands of people with the antics of Basil Fawlty, his wife Sybil and Manuel in “Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience”. According to Alison Pollard-Mansergh from ITA they began by contacting contacted John Cleese’s agent to gain permission “and basically they said that there are many people out there who impersonate the characters in many countries. They are happy that the characters are loved so much.”
In the ten years of the show, they have “performed extensively throughout Australia, including most major cities and many regional areas … Norfolk Island, Vanuatu, Hong Kong, Singapore … we have some venues in England that are very interested in us taking the show to them next year.”
The show is very much an interactive experience with a script that doesn’t recreate the television show. Instead the “ideas and characters that are in the original TV series are reflected, but not used in the same way…The script itself has developed over the years from two main sources: Input from the very talented actors and comedians that are involved with our show … and ‘magic moments’ that have occurred during shows that we have decided to add in to the script. Many of us have an Improvisation background, and this is a fabulous asset.”
Over the years there have been many “magic moments” provided by punters. “The MOST memorable are when punters actually take on characters themselves and join in with the fun. One night, a gentleman came in dressed as the Major, and played the role to perfection all night. Because there are still elements of the show that are adlibbed, this works beautifully, because it adds extra elements, and keeps us on our toes. Sybil sometimes takes in a painting that she has created … one night an auctioneer was in the audience (his real job) ... he decided he would auction off the painting … it was all completely spontaneous, and was wonderful.”
“People love the fact that they experience sitting in the dining room with Basil, Sybil and Manuel working around them. This is the key thing … it is interactive and not on a stage.”
Amongst all the chaos, the audience are served a three course meal, thankfully by competent wait staff ! “The venue staff do their usual jobs, but act as though we are their managers for the evening. They don’t get involved unless we ask them to … there is enough Mayhem caused by Manuel … and the patrons have to eat something!”
“Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience” is on at the following venues: Templebar Precinct (98 Smith Street, Collingwood) : 5th – 7th; 13th – 14th; 19th – 21st April The Pumphouse Hotel (128 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy) : 9th – 12th April The Royal Melbourne Hotel (629 Bourke Street, Melbourne) : 15th – 18th April The Cornish Arms (163A Sydney Road, Brunswick) : 22nd – 28th April Click your mouse on “Faulty Towers Dining Experience”:http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/season/2007/show/367/ for full details.