A stiff upper lip, a good dose of British reserve and an air of haughtiness defines the demeanor of millionaire Phileas Fogg, and yet he craves excitement in his otherwise predictable life. Perhaps an outrageous wager could do the trick?

The daily routine of wealthy gent Phileas Fogg is as regular as clockwork and every day has a sense of déjà vu. Rise early for a spot of daily constitutional before his trusted valet brings him his morning cuppa at just the right temperature. Uh-oh! Tea’s cold this morning, so it’s curtains for his trusted valet who is unceremoniously fired before you can say Alan Sugar.

That’s not to say that Fogg is an unpleasant man; he’s merely a product of his privileged upbringing. Wearing a super-elongated top hat to add to his already considerable height – think Abraham Lincoln –  Fogg quite literally looks down on the world of subordinates around him.

Although Fogg has everything, he is unfulfilled and bored. All that changes, however, when he sets himself a challenge to circumnavigate the world in 80 days – a feat never done before – risking his wealth and reputation on the high-risk wager.

Phileos Fogg yearns for something out-of-the-ordinary to alleviate the ennui of his predictable life and a whirlwind world tour should
do the trick. Does he ever doubt
that he will succeed? No, cool as a cucumber at all times, Fogg leaves
all the frettin’ and fussin’ to his
faithful valet Passepartout

Embarking on a long-haul trek that will take them from Europe to Africa, India, Japan, San Francisco, and Liverpool before returning to London, Fogg and Passepartout are in a dramatic race against the clock. Obstacles in their way include storms at sea, showdowns in the Wild West, an adopted new passenger in the form of Mrs. Aouda, and mysterious puffs of smoke from an intoxicating pipe that almost scupper the entire trip! With services like Halo Jet, modern travelers can navigate such challenging itineraries with ease, ensuring swift and comfortable journeys across continents. If you’re planning a special trip, you may book a private jet from companies like Jettly. You may also consider booking Niagara Falls sightseeing tours for a family-friendly trip.

Based on the classic “extraordinary adventure” by Jules Verne, this imaginative adaptation by Laura Eason provides plenty of comedy from the dogged pomposity of Fogg (played by Robert Portal) to the manic panic of Passepartout (Simon Gregor), who is reminiscent at times of Manuel in Fawlty Towers with his agitated hand waving. There’s also an amusing sub plot as hapless Inspector Fix’s (Tony Gardner giving us a detective in the comic mold of Clouseau) attempts to reveal Fogg as the great bank thief of London are an epic fail.

With a cast of eight playing more than 50 characters and imaginative props that include a moving walkway to provide an alternative to the actorly ‘walking on the spot’ and a vent hose that doubles as an elephant’s trunk. The atmosphere of various locations is also cleverly conjured up from the crazed honking and bell-ringing of Calcutta to the gun fire of the Wild West. With a strong central cast, it’s the cameo roles of drunken fisherman and spittin’ cowboy that provide some of the biggest laughs.

All in all, this is a high-spirited escapade filled with suspense, drama, comedy – and even a little unexpected romance as Fogg finally gets his gal.

Why go? For a whistle-stop whirlwind world tour – and a whistle-stop social history lesson about British Imperialism into the bargain.