Bay welcomes Fawlty Towers' West End debut

Fawlty Towers - the iconic comedy synonymous with Torbay - is to make its debut in the world-famous theatreland of London's West End.
And council leaders, who may have in the past been a little cautious about the impact the madcap antics of Basil and Manuel would have had on the English Riviera's holiday image, have declared: “Can we have some tickets?”
The West End is set to welcome the show to its prestigious venues as John Cleese, the writer and creator of the beloved 1970s sitcom, brings a stage adaptation to life. The play, a compilation of material from three classic episodes – The Hotel Inspectors, The Germans, and Communication Problems – is poised to premiere at the Apollo Theatre on May 4.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Cleese told the BBC: “It's a thrill to bring Fawlty Towers to the West End for the first time.”
The tourism industry in the Bay has spent a lot of time, energy and money taking the Riviera's reputation more upmarket and away from the Fawlty Towers impressions of bonkers hoteliers, bumbling foreign waiters and retired mad majors.

But council leader Dave Thomas said: “When do I get my invite? It is inevitable that people will start talking again about the origins of Fawlty Towers and Torbay. That was long ago. Now people talk more positively about the Bay and with our branded hotels like the Mercure and Ibis the English Riviera is a much different place.
“You cannot air-brush out history but this is a bit of light relief. I would love to go and see it.”

His deputy, Chris Lewis, would also welcome a West invite. He said: “It is slapstick comedy and fun that does no damage. The more Torbay is talked about the better.”

And English Riviera BID Company CEO Carolyn Custerson added: "The fact is Torquay and the Gleneagles Hotel and its staff were the inspiration for the very popular 1970s series and it is very exciting to hear about the new play in London."  
The West play, a two-hour production, previously delighted audiences in Australia. Fawlty Towers epitomised British comedy with its portrayal of the irritable hotel owner Basil, constantly grappling with demanding guests. For the stage adaptation, Cleese has intricately weaved the storylines of three episodes into a single narrative arc.
Basil, in an attempt to impress hotel inspectors, finds himself in a comedic struggle with a party of Germans and a challenging guest, Mrs Richards.
“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,” Cleese explained to the BBC, inviting audiences to join the laughter at the Apollo.
Directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, known for her work on Only Fools and Horses: The Musical and Monty Python Live, the London show boasts a stellar cast. Adam Jackson-Smith takes on the role of Basil Fawlty, with Anna-Jane Casey as his wife Sybil, Hemi Yeroham as waiter Manuel and Victoria Fox as Polly, the resourceful chambermaid.
While the Australian run in 2016 received praise for solidly weaving the episodes into one story, some critics found the London show lacking the excitement needed to make a compelling case for Fawlty Towers as a play.
Tickets for this highly anticipated West End production went on sale on February 7.
Although the hotel, storylines and fictional characters created by Cleese were set in Torquay, the show was never actually filmed on the English Riviera. In fact, it was filmed outside the Woburn Grange Country Club at Bourne End, Buckinghamshire.
The Monty Python team, including Cleese, visited Torquay in May 1970 to film sketches for the cult TV series, Monty Python’s Flying Circus. It was whilst staying at the now-demolished Gleneagles Hotel in Asheldon Road that they first encountered the hotel proprietor and retired naval officer, Donald Sinclair and his wife, Beatrice.
They were able to experience first-hand the eccentricities of Mr Sinclair. Many of the Monty Python team consequently switched to the comfortable surroundings of the Imperial Hotel. But Cleese and then wife Connie Booth ended up writing the series.
Donald and Beatrice Sinclair provided the inspiration for the iconic TV husband and wife characters Basil and Sybil as well as the likes of Polly the chambermaid, Manuel, the lovable but clumsy waiter from Barcelona, the Major and the charming elderly ladies, Miss Tibbs and Miss Gatsby.