The Groggy Squirrel

When you see this show in the Festival Program, it might make you cringe a little. How lame could this get? Well surprisingly this is a brilliantly executed evening of Theatre Restaurant entertainment and if the ear piercing squeals from the nearby table of middle aged ladies were anything to go by, a complete hoot to boot.

A big audience of 83 crowded into the Templebar Presinct that is appropriately a gold curtained drag venue at other times. Sybil (Alison Pollard-Mansergh) began mingling with the crowd around 7pm in a stunningly huge wig. Manuel (Tony Nixon) started scurrying about and was soon followed by a commanding Basil Faulty (Nigel Bell) and we knew the show had begun. The audience were shoved rudely back out onto the street, waiting while the front door key was accidentally lost and found. Basil yelled party’s names individually, who were then seated by a cringing, harried Manuel. Nigel Bell has managed to look so uncannily like John Cleese’s Basil that my knees quivered in fear a little, as I looked up into his sneering visage.

Bread rolls were chucked across the room to everyone by Manuel while Sybil continued to mingle and pass out butter, laughing like a drain and we were soon enjoying the pumpkin soup of first course. The Food was basic theatre restaurant type chicken or beef, but it was yummy and suited the sort of Faulty Towers 70’s theme. The performance gradually built through the first course to get into some plot development between courses that involved iconic references to many of the episodes of Fawlty Towers. Basil used Manuel to place a secret bet, we were treated to a fire drill, the chef collapsed in the kitchen and Manuel’s hamster escaped, amongst a myriad of other things that you can spot as you go.

There were slatherings of violent slapstick and a hilarious chase scene on Smith St that we watched like a silent movie through the bar’s windows. God knows what the Collingwood junkie inhabitants were thinking of all of this. The show was all nicely tied up by dessert and a good night was had by all. The audience were a very integral part of the show, so beware that you may find a fluffy ‘hamster’ down the back of your collar or your dining table climbed upon.

I was surprised and impressed by this show; the performances were frighteningly pitch perfect and the show delivered on all its promises. It’s a little pricey but covers a full night of entertainment and a three-course meal, so well worth it, especially if you are a Fawlty Towers fan.

Visit the comedy festival website for bookings and further details