Today we chat with handsome Australian actor Michael Davoren who plays Basil in Faulty Towers The Dining Experience. Organised chaos ensues with all the best gags and a three-course meal. Loosely-scripted from the ‘13th episode’ of the TV series, you dine at your pleasure and enjoy this treasure of a show. So let’s chat with Michael….
1. What inspired you journey into the Arts?
As a child growing up in Australia, I found myself gravitating towards all things British and BBC related. Fascinated by great comic actors such as (obviously) John Cleese, Jon Pertwee and Rowan Atkinson (to name but a few) I found myself mimicking and creating my own characters and voices myself.
2. What’s your show about and where are you taking your show after the Edinburgh Fringe?
“Faulty Towers The Dining Experience” does what it says on the tin. The word “Homage” is bandied about far to liberally these days. However, this show IS just that. It does not pretend to be anything it isn’t. It pays tribute to the genius of John Cleese and Connie Booth’s writing in the most affectionate way. Audience members have the opportunity to dine at Faulty Towers and interact with the characters they love.
After Edinburgh the show heads continues to tour the UK, Australia and the Netherlands.
3. What are you most proud of?
I am particularly proud of the attention to detail this show pays. Every nuance, every gesture is a deliberate attempt to transplant the world of the television series into the real world. The level of appreciation the interactive show has achieved in the UK is something to be proud of. Particularly when some audience members refuse to believe that the actors are Australian.
4. If you had a chance to work with anyone of your choosing, who would it be?
Peter Serafinowicz, Shaun Micallef, Julia Zemiro , the Doctor Who Production Team and Barry Humphries!
5. What kind of questions do you most like to be asked about your work and why?
Have you met John Cleese? Because it means there might be a chance he could come to the show!
6. Do the reviewers of Fringe shows do a good job?
They all do the most wonderful job, especially the reviewers coming to our show this year…I just wish I knew what to put in their fruit baskets?!
7. What do you feel about the current state of Arts funding available?
There should be more of it. It is just as important as sport!
8. Which three famous people would you invite to dinner and why [dead celebrities included]? And what tasty treat would you prepare?
Stephen Fry, Richard Dawkins and the late Carl Sagan because the conversation would be so interesting people would not notice that I ordered Thai instead of cooking!
9. What do you do to relax?
Sailing in Australia! NOTHING on Earth matches the natural beauty of Australia!
10. What would be your dream come true?
To play a Doctor Who villain!
Tags: 2010 Edinburgh Fringe, Australian Comedians, Basil, Basil in Fawlty Towers, British Comedians, Connie Booth, Eating Out Thai Food, Fawlty Towers, John Cleese, Michael Davoren