From the creators of the
An immensely enjoyable experience.
Set in the swanky surroundings of New Town’s George Hotel we are invited as guests to the wedding reception of Will and Kate, who hoped to elope at a wedding registry with no frills. The bride’s overbearing parents, however, have gotten wind of the scheme and have arranged a surprise reception in which the usual farcical hijinks that are to be expected occur. At £39 a ticket you’d expect quite a bit for your money, and in all fairness you do get it. All guests get a three course meal cooked on premises and served in real wedding fashion complete with cake to finish the evening off. All of which is cooked and prepared to a very high standard it must be said.
Turning to the show itself, immersive theatre lives and dies by its ability to create the right mood and atmosphere for its audience, and here the show succeeds in creating the feel of a busy, hectic and, at times, suffocating family occasion where tensions are running high. As the audience enters the reception area we are greeted by the cast who all keep up their characters perfectly for the entire two and half hour run time. They banter and interact with the audience in a completely natural way that never comes off as forced or awkward, whilst still giving wonderful performances with impeccable comic timing and chemistry between them. Particular praise goes to Jack Baldwin, who plays both Kate’s down-to-earth Northern Father and Will’s fast talking and incredibly bumbling best man. Baldwin very ably differentiates between the two characters and brings an infectious energy to the roles which had the audiences in stitches at every moment.
Indeed the play at times really nails the entire immersive experience. The moment at the ending where we are invited to join in the wedding dancing is a highlight that allows us to experience the emotions of the characters. In all honesty I wish more of the play had gone in this direction than the traditional stationary viewing experience we get for most of it. Additionally, it lacks the self-assuredness of the more established Faulty Towers Dining Experience, some of the gags are very clearly telegraphed which makes their impact less amusing, and the performance never quite reaches the farcical climax it seemed to be building up to.
Despite these issues this is still an immensely enjoyable experience, and if you have the spare cash and an enjoy a bit of comedy with your meal I’d highly recommend you R.S.V.P. this particular invite.
