If you love the original Fawlty Towers TV series, the stage version now playing at the New Wimbledon Theatre is a joyful return to the world of Basil, Sybil, Polly and Manuel. Directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, the production captures the frantic energy, sharp humour and brilliant timing that made the sitcom so iconic.
The set, designed by Liz Ascroft, perfectly recreates the famous hotel — the reception desk, the dining room and those slightly shabby bedrooms. It feels like stepping straight into the BBC studio of the 1970s, complete with that familiar mix of chaos and charm.
Danny Bayne plays Basil Fawlty with just the right amount of manic frustration. His explosive temper and wild physical comedy have the audience laughing again and again. Mia Austen brings a wonderfully dry wit to Sybil, her sharp looks and sharp lines keeping Basil in check. Hemi Yeroham is a joy as Manuel, the well-meaning but endlessly confused waiter — his timing and expressions are spot on. Joanne Clifton makes an excellent Polly, calm and capable amid the madness, while Paul Nicholas delights as the slightly dazed Major, getting laughs with even the smallest line.
The direction keeps the pace brisk and the energy high, moving quickly from one disaster to the next. The script, adapted by John Cleese himself, combines some of the best-known moments from the series — “Don't mention the war!” and “I know nothing!” still get big laughs — while linking them smoothly into a single storyline.
There are moments when the show feels more like a greatest hits compilation than a brand-new play, but that's part of the fun. It doesn't try to reinvent Fawlty Towers; it celebrates it.
For fans of the original sitcom, this production offers an evening of pure nostalgia and infectious laughter. And for those discovering it for the first time, it's a great introduction to one of Britain's greatest comedies.
It runs until 25 October. Tickets: here.