Alien on Stage Review

The latest game news from IGN - one of my fave channels ever - check it out This review was filed out of the SXSW Film Festival and was viewed via digital screener. [poilib element="accentDivider"] 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-fi horror 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. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://ift.tt/2QkwTvh] That might have been the inauspicious end of it if it hadn't caught the eye of filmmakers Lucy Harvey and Danielle Kummer, who felt this diamond in the rough needed a bigger spotlight to truly shine. They became not only champions of this scrappy show, but also documentarians of its evolution. The resulting movie is an unabashed celebration of the Dorset Bus Drivers' bold ambition and undeniable affability. Interviews aboard buses and in cramped office spaces introduce the amateur actors in their everyday setting. By contrast, the cavernous rehearsal hall feels immense and liberating. With blue-collar accents and a mischievous twinkle, they share stories about this mad idea's origins and their connections to Alien, or an unbothered lack thereof. These friendly folk speak with the kind of candor usually shared over a couple of pints. However, this is a tight-knit crew. So, while they might crack self-deprecating jokes, they'll never be caught talking poorly of each other. Instead, a blush or hand flurry will wave away even the thought of doing so. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-xenomorph-and-alien-from-the-alien-movies&captions=true"] 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! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2011/06/01/alien-chestburster"] 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. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-15-best-deaths-in-the-alien-movies&captions=true"]

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