Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 7th March 2026
Reviewed by Emma Barnes
5*****
Checking into the Mayflower Theatre this week feels like stepping into the mid-1970s. For those old enough to remember huddling around a flickering black-and-white TV set to catch the latest disaster in Torquay, John Cleese’s stage adaptation is a high-energy restoration of a comedy masterpiece.
The production cleverly stitches together three of the most beloved episodes; ‘The Hotel Inspectors’, ‘Communication Problems’, and ‘The Germans’ into a singular, escalating nightmare of farcical proportions. From the moose head falling on Basil to the missing gambling winnings, the chaos never lets up.
Replacing John Cleese as Basil was always going to be a monumental challenge, expectations were high, yet Danny Bayne manages it with terrifying precision. He doesn’t just mimic Basil; he inhabits the man’s razor-thin patience and elastic physicality. Whether he’s attempting a nervous “lavatorial squat” to appease a guest or breaking into that infamous, goose-stepping trot, Bayne captures the manic essence of Cleese with an energy that felt fresh.
Mia Austen is equally superb as Sybil. Her machine-gun laugh and bossy tones are perfect, providing the necessary steel to Basil’s chaos. The supporting cast are a delight, particularly Hemi Yeroham, whose Manuel is a whirlwind of frantic, well-meaning bewilderment.
Liz Ascroft’s split-level set, complete with the beige-and-floral 1970s “shabby chic” and plenty of slamming doors is a masterclass in period detail that brings the hotel to life.
To the audience’s obvious delight, every iconic catchphrase is present and the atmosphere is electric with anticipation. From Basil’s hissed “Don’t mention the war!” to Manuel’s “I know nothing,” and Sybil’s signature shrill cry of “Ba-zil!”—it is all unapologetically there. The script even retains the sharper edges that probably wouldn’t survive a modern re-write, much to the appreciation of the crowd who were often laughing in anticipation of the punchlines.
A celebration of British comedy and expertly choreographed chaos, this is a five-star trip down memory lane.