Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: ALIEN ON STAGE [Denver Film Festival 2021]
The idea of homage and the reflection of nostalgia is an usual element of play in parody in a way. "Alien On Stage" is not a parody but it is taken in play as an approach to amateur theater where the material becomes necessarily funny by design and delivery. That is not to say all the players don't take the endeavor seriously. The irony is that the people starring in this production are bus drivers in the Dorset area of Britain. Most of them are not fully aware of "Alien" itself as a cultural milestone. Dave, the director, is former military and exacting but his people and directing skills are questionable though he tries his best. This approach and style of theater, usually reserved for Christmas plays, is very DIY but the engagement, especially of the lead craftsmen, is admirable and shows that achievement is possible. The road shows their path in doing their local production before being invited for a one-night run in the West End.
The inspiration seems to come from Dave's son but Dave's actual control of the production seems a little unresolved. His son wrote the adaptation. His wife stars in it. And yet there is not truly a love reflected in his eyes for the material or in him having any experience really. But then again his emotional approach is quite reserved. Now the special effects guy...he is just giddy like a schoolboy...and loves making the gadgets. Considering their restrictions, the players adherence to the material is interesting or perhaps required. There are clips from the "Alien" itself so it seems that approval was given, at least for festival runs since the story of "Alien" is so inherent to the story. The film seems to be made by two friends who created a fan club for the production and yet the filming seems to have taken place a little before so the timeline has a little bit of vagueness to it. What the film does show is the joy that these people, who work more basic jobs, get out of doing this, especially when they get called up to the big time for one night in London at a theater in Leicester Square. "Alien On Stage" is a derivative work but that is its charm because it takes something most people see in one way and reflects it differently in another. B
By Tim Wassberg
