‘KEVIIIIIIN!’
Remember that sound? It’s the all-too familiar screech of Kate McAlister when she realises her 8 year-old bébé is home alone in another country. Well, fear not Home Alone enthusiasts, Jodie Prenger and Bobby Delaney have a treat for you! A word of advice though, the beloved classic may be more flamboyant than you remember it to be: the McAllister family were granted a bit of a makeover, and they’re taking all favourites out of the
closet to make it happen.
Bringing to you a parody like no other, Prenger and Delaney blur all the lines and remove all
limits to create a new take on the classic holiday film. If you are looking for a heart-warming show that will bring meaning to the spirit of Christmas, this is definitely the wrong show. However, if you are in the market for a night of pure unadulterated laughter, then this is it.
When you have an actor who can take something as basic as an eyebrow twitch and make it into something that brings the audience to riotous laughter, you know you have hit the jackpot - Homo Alone has found 4 of those gems.
Allie Dart takes the role of Kate McAlister, taking liberties going far beyond imagination. Her ability to work with and juggle ridiculous accents from one second to the next was nothing short of impressive. Dart took the assignment and showed time and time again that she was more than up for the job, taking parody theatre to the next level. Jack North as Peter McAllister. What a guy. Taking this traditionally quite reserved character and turning it into a man with a gay and lively persona is no easy feat. And yet, between the high kicks and high pitched squeals, North managed to turn Peter into a wildly memorable character.
North and Dart then join forces as the robber duo Harry and Marv. Whilst still incredibly funny, those two did not seem to grab the attention they were seeking, as the audience (or at least, this reviewer) was aching to hear the comical voice of Dart’s Kate and see North’s grand entrances.
The cast is completed, of course, by Elliott Evans and Steph Asamoah as Kevin and Buzz respectively. As comical as the duo was, they were quickly upstaged by their parents’ presence in the room. Despite being perhaps intentional, it seemed a shame for the two to be overshadowed so easily.
The stage itself is set as the McAllister living room, with family portraits hung on the walls and a large Christmas tree. Above the McAllister walls, there sit the houses of the block, which light up one by one, just like the iconic introduction to the 1990 movie. All of it is done in a way that is surprisingly faithful to the movie, and yet far enough that they can not be confused.
All in all, this show is nothing but a great night out. The jokes, despite not being the most
sophisticated, always landed perfectly and solicited hilarious audience responses. With a
stellar cast of four, no vision is too big.
Homo Alone runs at The Other Palace Studios until 5th January.
★★★★★ (5*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Mark Senior
Comments