Faulty Towers The Dining Experience Interactive Theatre Australia
Sarah's Cafe
Tues 26 Feb
Until Sun 16 March (various venues)


Standing outside a closed venue reading the rough signs stuck to the door can be a disconcerting experience: "Under New Management" and "Wait Outside. Signed: B Faulty" gave the game away to the throng. A few minutes after 7pm Sybil (Alison Pollard-Mansergh) and Basil (Nigel Bell) stepped out to greet their dining audience and begin the lengthy process of sorting out Manuel (the diminutive Andy Foreman) and getting everyone seated. You pays your money and you takes your chances... This is great theatre for fans of the TV show and a dining experience like no other for anyone else, even the tourists in Leigh Street outside got into the act taking photos. The three staff (protagonists?) are excellent studies of their characters and everyone felt they were part of the entertainment.
Manuel creates havoc throughout the evening: chairs are stolen, butter is lost and found, Manuel clambers on top of one hapless woman and dances on her table - "Mr Faulty, he say go and wait on table..." - and the chef's false teeth are lost, and found, in the tomato and basil soup. The food might be a trifle cursory (the Dragon pie), but no-one went home hungry.
Faithful to the feel of the television show, the main course involves ratatouille and much more drama. Basil stalks the restaurant chiding patrons on their manners - "Elbows! Where did you people grow up?" - and Manuel's pet rat - "is hampster..." - makes its inevitable appearance. The two hour duration is a little flexible, so don't go booking another show straight after unless you're comfortable with cutting and running. Highly recommended.


Alex Wheaton