Matinee arrived yet, Fawlty?

[Fambo Number Mive]

A stage show based on Fawlty Towers is coming to the West End in London later this year. It's been adapted by John Cleese.

The show will be directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, who also directed Only Fools and Horses: The Musical and Monty Python Live.

[DrGreggles]

It's going to have songs in, isn't it.

[TheMonk]

No source? This sounds like the Australian production from a few years back which consisted of a couple of episodes taped together. It disappeared pretty quickly. It felt like an attempt to quell the dinner restaurant shows making all the money. But at least they had food and mostly original material.

[Fambo Number Mive]

Sorry, I forgot to add the link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68171380

Ironically, it is the sort.of thing Basil Fawlty would do if posting on a forum.

[neveragain]

It's going to have songs in, isn't it.

Nah. If it was Eric Idle adapting it...

[DrGreggles]

No source? This sounds like the Australian production from a few years back which consisted of a couple of episodes taped together. It disappeared pretty quickly. It felt like an attempt to quell the dinner restaurant shows making all the money. But at least they had food and mostly original material.

The tablecloths

[Tony Yeboah]

This might actually be alright. But it is still a mistake.

[beanheadmcginty]

Should cast Barrymore in the Fawlty role

[dissolute ocelot]

The play has been adapted by writer and creator John Cleese using material from three episodes of the BBC series - The Hotel Inspectors, The Germans and Communication Problems.

It was staged in Sydney in 2016 and widely reviewed then. The Guardian didn't like it but most critics reckoned it was well done despite being completely pointless. SMH gave it 3.5/5, praising its eerily perfect recreation of the TV show set and cast.

So basically a cash in, but not a bad one.

Should cast Barrymore in the Fawlty role

I think she'd make a better Polly (American).

[TheMonk]

Yes it's the same show that was performed in Australia.

"I've adapted three of my favourite episodes for the stage and written one huge finale, which will bring together the endings of all three episodes."
The Hotel Inspector', 'The Germans'  and 'Communication Problems'.
https://beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/14391/fawlty-towers-london?

Here's a few reviews of that run.
https://amp.theguardian.com/stage/2016/aug/21/fawlty-towers-live-review-fun-but-pointless-adaptation-screen-to-stage

https://citynews.com.au/2016/review-best-british-australian-needed-fawlty-towers-live/

https://amp.smh.com.au/entertainment/fawlty-towers-live-review-stage-farce-to-the-bone-20160819-gqwvpx.html

[TheMonk]

Wow that post that went up while I was writing mine makes mine a right waste of time.

[George White]

Paul Nicholas is playing the Major.
Fawlty like it used to be. We got Fawlty, we got Fawlty, we got Fawlty!

Didn't recognise him without his wig. 
Reminded of my mam always giving out whenever he appeared on something and moaning about how old he looked, and then realising that he was about 12 years older than her, and was already in his thirties during his teen idol days, and was already 40-ish when doing Just Good Friends.

https://variety.com/2024/theater/global/john-cleese-fawlty-towers-london-west-end-1235895034/
Also noticed Dale 'Rainbow Days' Superville and John 'T-Shirt' Hasler.

[Fambo Number Mive]

I wonder who this is for. Are there many Fawlty Towers fans who want to see a stage show using material from three of the episodes? Or is it for people who saw half an episode once and fancy a night out?

They should really make it some kind of a dining experience, those seem to be very popular.

[Average Comedy Enjoyer]

Sign outside reads:

Manatee raved yeti wiltiy?

[idunnosomename]

Basically a year since Fawlty Towers but it's in the Caribbean kicked off the Fawltyposting epidemic

[Video Game Fan 2000]

these eggs look like [spotlight falls on obnoxious stage school brat who deserves to die in a paint can depot guff explosion] you maaade them

[poodlefaker]

I wonder who this is for. Are there many Fawlty Towers fans who want to see a stage show using material from three of the episodes? Or is it for people who saw half an episode once and fancy a night out?

Old people. Pensioners on coach trips. People who liked The Play That Goes Wrong. Local am dram groups have been doing Fawlty Towers on stage for years.

[Gurke and Hare]

Anyone who's on a holiday in London and wants a night out at a West End theatre, really.

[neveragain]

People who liked The Play That Goes Wrong.

Hey. Don't be dissing that. Wonderfully orchestrated chaos.

[mippy]

The 'Faulty Towers' dinner show advertised at a hotel near my office isn't going to be best pleased. Hopefully they can give the actors playing Miguel, Synthia and Bartel understudy roles.

[bobloblaw]

Still, the arrival of another stage production based on a beloved TV sitcom will, at the very least, will really annoy Linehan. For that and no other reason, I'm for it.

[DrGreggles]

Hey. Don't be dissing that. Wonderfully orchestrated chaos.

Yep, proper belly laughs that.

[poodlefaker]

Hey. Don't be dissing that. Wonderfully orchestrated chaos.

It's not half as good as Noises Off. And the title? Fucksake lads, make an effort.

[Phoenix Lazarus]

Should cast Barrymore in the Fawlty role

That'd be an interesting version of the story with the corpse.

[neveragain]

It's not half as good as Noises Off. And the title? Fucksake lads, make an effort.

Well, nothing's as good as Noises Off. And the title - yeah, I agree with you but in terms of broad, mainstream entertainment it's not a bad thing to be clear on what your show is. The TV series at least brought me a lot of joy - just pure fun, silly laughs; no pathos, darker edge or any important "point" - at a horrible pandemic-adjacent time.

[thenoise]

Anyone who's on a holiday in London and wants a night out at a West End theatre, really.

Theatre for people who don't like theatre?

[Average Comedy Enjoyer]

The one time I went, I was surprised to find that The X That Goes Wrong has a hardcore of fans at their live shows who know all the words and are also regular attendees to at least two of the following:

 - MCCC (for the drinking)
 - Henley (for the drinking)
 - Frieze Art Fair (to see what Brian's Nephew's done with his Art School degree)
 - The Biennale (Per la vino)
 - The last night of the Proms (for Jerusalem, and to see Jenny's new Knightsbridge flat)

Waistcoats and bowties for the lads, Barbour jackets over summer dresses for the ladies.

[Brundle-Fly]

Hey. Don't be dissing that. Wonderfully orchestrated chaos.

I'm sure they are, and good luck to them, but all that 'sloppy amateur dramatics' comedy conceit of those '...Goes Wrong' shows just seems such old hat to me.

[idunnosomename]

- Frieze Art Fair (to see what Brian's Nephew's done with his Art School degree)

serving drinks at a reception of one of the gallery stands?

Play That Goes Wrong always struck me as something that's probably alright but as for most of London, massively overpriced and full of cunts

[Tony Tony Tony]

First peek....