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Mar 30, 2021 · An inadvertently hilarious amateur theater production of Ridley Scott's 1979 monster movie might have been a 'you had to be there' story, if not for the hipster pair who...
- On stage, this Alien remake is a total scream.
- Every Xenomorph and Alien from the Alien Movies
- Verdict
By Kristy Puchko
Updated: Nov 3, 2022 8:50 pm
Posted: Mar 18, 2021 6:30 pm
This review was filed out of the SXSW Film Festival and was viewed via digital screener.
In 1979, Ridley Scott drove audiences wild with his pulse-racing vision of extraterrestrial terror in Alien. In 2013, a motley crew of British bus drivers did the same, when they reimagined this sci-fihorror classic as a low-budget stage spectacular. Their journey from flopping at a small-town theater to becoming the talk of London's West End is chronicled in the quirky and charming documentary, Alien on Stage.
In the rural county of Dorset, England, an amateur dramatics company made up of bus drivers (as well as their supervisors and engineers), puts on an annual production as a charity fundraiser. Typically, this is a family-friendly pantomime, fairy tales, or Robin Hood. But that all changed when an aspiring screenwriter proposed a radical new direction, recreating one of his all-time favorite movies. His proposed "Alien on Stage" became a family affair, directed by his dad, stage-managed by his brother, with costumes by his girlfriend, and starring his mum as the ass-kicking Ripley. Much of the cast is filled with her middle-aged peers, who relish the donuts at rehearsals much more than running their lines. Still, they are determined to do their best on that stage, even if only twenty people turn up for opening night.
For all the warmth and whimsy of its cast and creative family crew, it is engineer-turned-special effects master, Pete, who proves a surprising scene-stealer. It's up to him to build low-budget versions of the facehugger, chestburster, and Xenomorph that would still make Ridley Scott proud. With a shy smile and a shake of his grey hair, Pete presents how he used common household items to create his creatures, happily sharing that YouTube tutorials and cosplay forums proved pivotal. Smartly, the second act only teases how well these menacing marionettes might work on stage. A jaunty montage of rehearsal fails brews an exciting tension, sparking the nerve-rattling hope that it'll all click on the night!
How a humble theatre troupe might bring the iconic Alien to life is the hook of Alien on Stage, pulling us in with the sheer audacity of the endeavor. This company's quest gives the documentary a roadmap. But, Harvey and Kummer cleverly take the scenic route, to allow us time to hang out with these lovely and creative people. They are fun and inspiring, lively representatives of the pleasures of community theater. It's an honor to be welcomed backstage and into the fold. So when the climax of their big night in London comes, we're on the edge of our seats hoping they break a leg!
My only complaint about Alien on Stage is that Harvey and Kummer don't dig all that deep into what this show -- and its success -- means. Interviews with its cast reveal some hope it might be a path to show business, while for others it's simply a lark. There's little sense of what is risked. What happens if they bomb in London? Without that established, the stakes are low, being basically embarrassment.
Also brushed by is why the hip crowds of London sold out this one-night-only event, and what their cheers and laughter throughout meant. Are they relishing how these blue-collar workers are bringing a fresh authenticity to the spaceship's crew? Are they laughing because a flat retort about a possible disaster is sharply suited to the malaise of an irritating workday? Or are they laughing -- not in earnest appreciation -- but in mocking, ironic enjoyment? A quick montage of post-play reactions and Twitter responses is all that's offered, which proves frustratingly vague and superficial.
Whether you're a theater lover, who aches for playhouses to reopen, a cosplayer who yearns for the return of Comic-Con, or a sci-fi fan who dreams of making an Alien of your own, Alien on Stage is a must-see. Harvey and Kummer are fans who fell hard for this unique production, and so made it their passion project to share it with the wider world. P...
Alien on Stage is a 2020 British documentary film about a group of bus drivers from Dorset who put on a stage version of Alien instead of their usual annual pantomime production, and are invited to perform at the Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End.
Apr 3, 2019 · Alien On Stage The Documentary. 87 subscribers. 143. 13K views 5 years ago LONDON. This is a trailer for a feature documentary, Producer & Directed by Danielle Kummer and Lucy Harvey ...more.
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A delight for fans of Ridley Scott's 1979 classic, Alien on Stage celebrates the power that art possesses to bring people together to honor their dreams. British bus drivers spend one year ...
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- Documentary
Sep 3, 2021 · Alien on Stage Trailer. Led by Dorset, England bus drivers, an amateur dramatics group decides to spend a year creating a stage adaptation of the sci-fi, horror film, Alien.
- 3 min
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- Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
