The Cube, Wodonga

Thu, Fri, Sat October 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 2016

Synopsis:

First presented on British TV in 1975, with a second series appearing in 1979, written by former Monty Python’s Flying Circus performers John Cleese with Connie Booth, the show has remained one of the most popular English TV comedy series of all time.

Witness the antics of the “ageing, brilliantine stick-insect,” possibly the World’s worst Hotel owner, Basil Fawlty, as he rails against the inconvenience of paying guests, competent staff, the language barrier and Sybil, in three of the best episodes from this Classic TV series.

Diplomacy is Basil’s middle name as he strives to meet his self-imposed directive, “don’t mention the war,” in The Germans.

How will Basil ever cope with a deaf guest who refuses to turn on her hearing aid in Communication Problems?

And discover Basil’s culinary skills (if he can ever track down the elusive Waldorf) and watch helplessly as he clashes with a formidable American in Waldorf Salad.

Add to the mix Sybil – Basil’s “overbearing” wife; Polly the conscientious University-student housemaid; and Manuel, a waiter whose grasp on the English language would be smoother if he simply grabbed a live tiger by the tail; and you have all the necessary ingredients for a hilarious evening’s entertainment!

Director Alex Gibbs says, “Basil Fawlty is one of the great comic characters of all time. Imagine the owner/manager of a seaside Hotel who loathes the job, the guests and his staff.”

“Then the sheer genius of pairing him with an eager to please waiter with just enough knowledge of English to get himself into a lot of trouble, and you have the basis for one of the funniest shows ever to grace the small screen.”

“And then the cast is brilliantly balanced with the cool common sense of Polly and the gentler sarcasm of Basil’s long suffering wife Sibyl.”

“Only twelve episodes of Fawlty Towers were ever made and so the audience will get to see a quarter of all the shows in one evening.”

“The three episodes have been carefully chosen to feature many of the Fawlty Towers favorite guest characters and give a good flavor of the breadth of the comedy showcased by both series.”

Producer Miguel de Oliveira says, “For me this has been a project 10 years in the making. I have always wanted to bring Fawlty Towers to the stage in Albury Wodonga and it is exciting to be able to turn that dream into reality.”

“Many of the scenes and even the lines from the show have become absolute classics which should be familiar to many in the audience.”

Cast:

Basil Fawlty                         COLM COX

Sybil Fawlty                         COLETTE QUIN

Polly                                      KENDALL ALEXANDRA KING

Manuel                                 MATT LANE

Major Gowan                      CLEVELAND SHAW

Mr Hamilton                       SHANE DOUTHIE

Mrs Hamilton                     HELEN LOCKHART

Mrs Richards                       ROSE SEXTON

Miss Tibbs                            SARAH DUDLEY

Miss Gatsby                         RACHEL HUNTINGTON

Terry                                     SCOTT BISHOP

Nurse Cowling                    MARY O’CONNELL

Doc and Mr Firkins            ANDREW BAILY

Mrs Wilson                          JENNY CARTLEDGE

Mrs Sharp, Mrs Arrad       TANYA HARVEY

Mr Shard, Driver                JAMES BOWEN

German, Mr Arrad             JACOB MCCROHAN

German, Mr Johnstone     ANDREW WIGHTON

German, Mrs Hare              CAITLIN BRICE

German, Miss Gurke           EMILY STRACHAN

German, Mr Kerr                 KEN PULLEN

German, Mr Mackintosh    NICK POPOVICH

Mr Yardley                             TIM VAN VEEN

Mr Thurston                          JAMES STRACHAN

Mr Libson                              ASH JUSTIN

Mrs Johnstone                      RO MCGILLIVRAY

Director (notes):

It’s always been part of my life.

I remember, as a child, rolling around on the floor laughing at Fawlty Towers.

I know this sounds like an exaggeration but I swear it’s true.

A Fawlty episode on TV once brought me out of an otherwise impenetrable sulk on a family holiday to a caravan park. My future in-laws allegedly decided to allow me into the family when I called their daughter ‘my little nest of vipers’ the fiest time I met them. So logically, when the opportunity arose to bring the brightest shining jewel in the crown of British comedy to the stage, I leapt at it faster than a bat up a nightdress.

Nnow with this truly fantastic cast and crew (seriously, I love you all), it’s time to show you what we’ve got, and I think it’s something special.

It is my absolute pleasure to bring you Fatty Owls – Live at The Cube, which I dedicate to my father, on whom I blame my entire sense of humour and to the memory of my grandmother. She loved Manuel. ALEX GIBBS

Crew:

Director                                ALEX GIBBS

Producer                              MIGUEL DE OLIVEIRA

Stage Manager                    PIETA SWANN

Sound                                    Professional Audio Services, The Cube

Sound FX                             IAN REID

Costumes                             RO MCGILLIVRAY

Set Design                            PETER UNIACKE

Set Construction                 PETER UNIACKE, GEORGE PENDER, ROHAN O’FARRELL, MIGUEL DE OLIVEIRA

Painting                                HELEN LOCKHART, SAM LOCKHART, MARY O’CONNELL, COLM COX

Promotion                            SIMON GOSS, SHOSHANNA GRIFFIN

Photography                        CARL-JOHAN RUTGERSSON, MIGUEL DE OLIVEIRA

Music – Arranged                JODIE SCHUTTE, STEVEN SWANN

Music – Performed              STEVEN SWANN, ERIN SWANN, TARA SWANN, AYLISH JORGENSON

Front of House                    SHOSHANNA GRIFFIN, DONA BISHOP, JODIE SCHUTTE, VANESSA & ABE, BRANT DIXON, JAHNA WHITE, ADRIAN DOUGHERTY, ANDREE PENDER

Graphic Designer             LAURA UNIACKE of RUBY JAY DESIGN

 

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