“The audience reaction is excellent.
They laugh from start to finish.”
Gill Sherry
Following its hugely successful West End run earlier this year, Fawlty Towers – The Play is now taking to the road and will arrive at Glasgow’s King’s Theatre in January.
Written by John Cleese and Connie Booth, Fawlty Towers first appeared on our screens in 1975 and despite consisting of only 12 episodes, is still as popular as ever 50 years on.
“There is a kind of tradition for this kind of humour,” Paul Nicholas tells me. “It’s very British. Basil Fawlty brings that bad-tempered Englishness. It’s very much a farce and therefore very funny.”
Paul plays The Major in the stage production and insists that although it’s half a century old, it’s still very different and very fresh.
“I’ve done quite a number of plays and shows over the years, but this show really does deliver in terms of the audience reaction. It’s based on three episodes that they probably know quite well, but it’s seamless the way John Cleese has knitted it all together.”
The three episodes are ‘The Hotel Inspector’, ‘The Germans’ and ‘Communication Problems’. So, are we to assume that the audience is of a certain age?
“It’s very much a mixed bag. It isn’t a necessity to have known the show to enjoy the play. There’s a great, deep affection for the show, but the play stands up very well on its own.”
The role of Polly is played by Joanne Clifton who has yet to join our Zoom call. While we wait for Joanne to connect, I ask Paul what appealed to him the most about joining the cast of Fawlty Towers – The Play.
“First of all, I like to work. I’m 80 now and to have a job at my age is very important to me. I think you’ve got to keep working if you can.”
He goes on to tell me about his audition.
“I went to the producer’s office and there was a big screen, and on this screen popped John Cleese. He was in LA, I think it was early morning there. I did this little read-through for John and he seemed to be chuckling 3000 miles away so I thought, that’s a good sign, he’s only just woken up and he’s already laughing!”
It obviously was a good sign because the audition was successful and the role of The Major is now very much his own.
“It’s great to be in something that works,” he adds. “To be in something that comes up very fresh, new and enjoyable that’s a hit, if you’re able to be part of that, why not?”
I ask Paul about his part in Just Good Friends, another classic sit-com from yesteryear. Although his career has been long and varied, do most people remember him as the lovable rogue, Vince Pinner?
“It was probably my most visible role in terms of public awareness, but it’s a long time ago. The thing about being a performer is, you want to be associated with something that works and I was very lucky to find that script and get that part. It’s very hard to find really good material, but they do come along. They came along for me with Just Good Friends and many other shows… and now of course with Fawlty Towers. You know when something is good as a performer because you’ve done things that aren’t good. You can recognise the difference quite quickly.”
Joanne Clifton has now joined us, and she has some good news to share.
“I got proposed to yesterday, so last night was a pretty big night!”
I try to think what Basil Fawlty might say in response to that comment but decide to play it safe and just offer my congratulations.
Joanne is probably best known for her appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, firstly as one of the professional dancers, and later as a presenter of It Takes Two. Although she’s starred in numerous stage productions, Fawlty Towers is her first long-term play. So, what led to her taking on the role as Polly?
“Fawlty Towers is my dad’s favourite show. We watched it as kids. John Cleese is my dad’s idol. Now here I am with the job! I’ve done a West End run, which was also my West End debut, and now a big tour of one of the best shows there is!”
I’m surprised she’s old enough to remember the original TV series. She’s certainly not old enough to remember Just Good Friends… is she?
“I haven’t watched it,” she admits, “but everybody who comes to see Fawlty Towers says ‘Oh my god, is that Paul Nicholas? I didn’t half used to fancy him!’ Everybody fancies our Paul!”
She’s not wrong! Let’s just say, he was very popular in our house in the early 80s.
It’s clear the two of them have great chemistry. Which makes me wonder… would Paul ever consider taking part in Strictly?
“Yeah… do they have an old codger slot? The truth is I’ll do anything!”
That might explain his extraordinary career. As well as acting, Paul was a successful pop singer (remember ‘Dancing with the Captain’ in 1976?) and has also tried his hand at directing and producing. But which does he prefer?
“I’m not that bothered,” he says. “I like to hear people laugh. I got that with Just Good Friends and I certainly get that with this show. You know it’s working because you can hear the laughter. If you’re doing something like Jesus Christ Superstar and you’re playing Jesus, it’s difficult to assess what the audience think because it’s quite an intense thing. The great thing about being in a comedy is you get an instant reaction which is very encouraging.”
Whilst Joanne’s career is very much in its infancy compared to Paul’s, she’s still enjoyed a considerable amount of success, not least winning the World Professional Ballroom Showdance Championships in 2013. Winning Strictly Come Dancing with partner, Ore Oduba, in 2016 is another of Joanne’s highlights, as is playing the title role of Millie Dillmount in the UK tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Hearing her talk about Fawlty Towers, I’m pretty sure this will be another career highlight for Joanne.
“I think I’m going to love doing this show. I stand at the side and I can watch bits of it – like Paul with the moose’s head – and I’m genuinely laughing. Every single night! Even though I’ve seen it so many times, I still find it hilarious. There are so many moments like that in the play. I love being in it.”
Paul agrees: “What I’m doing right now is certainly a highlight. To be in a hit is always a highlight. I’ve been lucky enough to have lots of hits, so I’ve had lots of highlights. I just want to keep going.”
Paul was the very first Danny Zuko when Grease hit the stage in the UK. As he’s already mentioned, he also played Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. At this point, Joanne makes an interesting observation.
“Paul?” she says. “You know you were Jesus? Well, Jesus Christ has the same initials as Joanne Clifton and John Cleese…”
“Oh my god,” he responds. “Those initials are obviously lucky for me!”
I’m loving the rapport between these two. If it’s even half as good on stage as it is on our Zoom call, their audiences are in for a treat. Talking of which, Fawlty Towers – The Play runs at King’s Theatre, Glasgow from 13th to 17th January. Tickets are available from www.fawltytowerstour.co.uk.
Before we say our goodbyes, I congratulate Joanne once more on her engagement, and then Paul concludes as follows:
“As performers, if you’re doing a comedy the one thing you require is laughter. With Fawlty Towers, the audience reaction is excellent. They laugh from start to finish.”
