Brisbane, QLD


Friday, September 17, 2021

A FAULTY TOWERS DINNER

 It is our village's eleventh birthday so the admin and dinner committee put on a special celebratory dinner this month. We assembled outside the community centre at 5:30 and we were shown to our seats by the Fawlty Towers Characters, Basil, Sybil, and Manuel. "Fawlty Towers" was a famous English sitcom in the late 1970's. Basil and his wife Sybil ran a guest house in Torquey in England. It was hilarious and not politically correct for these days. John Cleese, Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs were the actors for the main characters and they were so funny you had tears running down your face.

Now days there are theatre groups which have impersonators entertaining you at dinners. Many of the original skits took place in the dinning room where Manuel from Barcelona is learning English and how to be a waiter. Basil and Sybil are continuously bickering at one another while Basil is often making gaffs.

So last night at our special monthly dinner in the village we were entertained by these actors trying to serve us nuts, bread rolls and butter in the most unconventional ways like tossing them at us or emptying the crate of rolls onto the table. They kept us laughing in between courses. Basil continuing to try to train Manuel to be a waiter. Manuel keeps misunderstanding Basil's English instructions. Sybil keeps telling off Basil.

Eddie, Caren our village friends and us.

150 of us getting seated.

Manuel shows guests to their seats.  That is if he can find their table, (we are allocated table numbers)

Our managing director and owner of the village also greets the residents.

Basil and Sybil have a joke with Bill.

Manuel serves the rolls.

The Pumpkin and Leek soup was served by the High School catering students with Manuel's help.

Students and teachers of Rochdale High School help out.

Sybil is screaming I've lost my false teeth. A guest complains about the soup. Basil checks and finds her false teeth in the soup.

Sybil orders Manuel to wait on the tables. He jumps on the table and starts singing Spanish songs. Basel yells at him, "What are yo doing?" Manuel says , "She told me to wait here on table."

There is a skit about Manuel having a pet hamster, which is actually a rat. Basil explodes and says, "You can't have a rat in the kitchen!" Manuel argues, "It not rat it hamster!"

Main course was Chicken Kiev with beetroot medley, pureed peas and roast potatoes.

Dessert was Tiramisu

Our residents' chairperson, thanks the students and chefs.

21 comments:

  1. Sounds and looks like a wonderful evening - everyone enjoying it seems.
    Just love Basil Fawlty.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What fun. Fawlty Towers was one of the best comedy series. Hard to believe there were only 12 episodes ever made. I would have loved to be at your dinner. Laughter is a wonderful thing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello Diane,

    What a fun evening and a great anniversary celebration.
    Have a happy day and a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I remember Falty Towers on television too. It was very funny indeed, you had a nice meal with the actors!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I couldn't stop smiling as I read this. What a hoot and I am not mentioning the war!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds like a hilarious dinner. I do remember that sitcom too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am sure that dessert is was as good as it looks it's really beautiful. Just looks like a lot of fun and I wish somebody would do a whole box of rolls on my table haha

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great idea for a night out. Manuel's lookalike is particularly convincing. There was a manager in one of our local pubs who bore an uncanny resemblance to Basil Fawlty, but was in fact incredibly polite, helpful and professional - however when the mood took him he could do John Cleese's famous silly walk across the dining room.

    ReplyDelete
  9. How nice that you had such a nice evening with a lot of laughter, that's what we all need, young and old ! That's why I like Rick's home so much because it's cheerful and has a nice athmosphere ! They are only 75.

    ReplyDelete
  10. That sounds hilarious. I used to love that programme.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm constantly amazed at the fabulous planning and execution of all your dinners. They make living there so much fun.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Di, As I read your post I was reliving a Fawlty Towers dinner my work social club had in the late 80s. I've never forgotten having to crawl in through a low window because Manuel had misunderstood an instruction about locking the doors. And Sybil applying a huge safety pin to my V neckline saying Basil couldn't be trusted. Your Sybil and Manuel really look like the originals, don't they? Another wonderful occasion in your village!

    ReplyDelete
  13. OH MY WORD! How brilliant! English comedy was always my favorite and Fawlty Towers was tops. Basil and Sybil are brilliantly portrayed here. My sister and I still say "I know" while talking on the telephone! You really are part of a vibrant community. Thanks for your visits to and kind words on my blog. Keep well. Jo

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a fun celebration! You both look great!

    We loved watching Fawlty Towers on TV. Recently we have had lots of laughs watching a show on Netflix called "Still Game" about two pensioners who live in Scotland. It is hilarious! We need subtitles to understand the accents.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes its a good one. I had to put CC on so I could understand them too.

      Delete
  15. The food and entertainment sound like a lot of fun; Fawlty Towers was as funny a show as they can get.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like another fun evening at your village, and the food looks delicious.
    Great pictures of the event.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow that sounds like a real fun dinner. Great food and a good laugh as well. Well done with the photos.
    Take care and keep well t'other Diane

    ReplyDelete
  18. That looks like a total HOOT! What fun your little community has.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Another fun time n the village, Diane, and this one was quite an entertaining evening. It was lovely seeing all the smiles of you and Bill and fellow residents.

    ReplyDelete