Undaunted by taking on one of the icons of British comedy, co-directors Pat Pengilley and Paul Minott brought two episodes of Fawlty Towers to the Palairet Hall that were greeted with uproarious laughter by sell-out audiences on all three nights of the November 2010 production.

‘The best thing you’ve ever done’ and ‘I cried laughing’ were some of the comments received from audience members but, as Paul noted after the final show, Fawlty Towers proved far more difficult than the producers and cast initially imagined. While the excellent and hilarious scripts of John Cleese and Connie Booth are exceptionally well written, the task of performing to any standard approaching that of the original cast proved quite a challenge. The fast pace of the dialogue and visual gags kept everyone on their toes but somehow the cast pulled it off to the enjoyment of all … and even the hiccups got a laugh!

Set in a small hotel in Torquay owned by the rude and manic Basil Fawlty (Richard Luscombe) and his nagging and gossipy wife, Sybil (Barbara Day), it's a wonder any customer escaped without insult or abuse during their less-than-perfect stay. Despite waitress Polly's efforts at damage-control (Tabatha Cox) and the distraction of smacking his Spanish waiter Manuel (Robin Campbell), Basil still always managed to ensure his guests had a visit to remember ... for the worse possible reasons!

In the first episode performed by the Players, ‘Communication Problems’, Basil’s patience was tried to breaking point by the hard of hearing Mrs. Richards (Anthea Pratt). Flush with success at the horse races, Basil conspires with Polly, Manuel and the absent-minded Major (Jonathan Priddle) to avoid Sybil learning of his covert return to gambling. But Basil’s plans misfire when Mrs. Richards complains of money being stolen and Sybil unknowingly gives her the winnings, believing it to have been found by the Major when he’d really been hiding it for Basil. Basil’s joy returns when the misplaced money does resurface, but his pleasure is short-lived as the money is snatched from his palm to repay Mrs. Richards for smashing her vase when Sybil finally discovers his deceptions.

After the interval the performance continued with ‘The Hotel Inspectors’, where Basil hears that inspectors are in town and convinces himself that one is staying under his roof. Following a remark of being experienced with hotels, Basil initially suspects Mr. Hutchinson (Paul Minott) and fawns over his every need until Sybil, listening in on a telephone call, determines he is a spoon salesman. Infuriated by this revelation Basil taunts Hutchinson , only to leave him half choked and face-down in his meal after struggling by failing to get his correct order for dinner. Suspicion then turns to Mr. Walt (Jonathan Priddle) who, witnessing Hutchinson retaliatory beating of Basil, could not be expected to file anything like a glowing report were he the inspector. But alas for Basil when Walt declares that he only sells outboard motors, clearing the way for Hutchinson to be forcibly ejected from the hotel with custard pies to face and groin (to say nothing of Manuel liberally pouring cream into his briefcase), the real inspectors arrive just in time to see it all of the pandemonium in jaw-dropping amazement.

If it really is ‘hard to do comedy’ then the cast deserve much praise for truly making this a show to remember. Well done to all involved!

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