Fantasia Review: ‘Alien on Stage’ Truck Drivers in Space Meets Bus Drivers on Stage

Lucy Harvey and Danielle Kummer‘s documentary Alien on Stage is now streaming as part of Fantasia’s 25th International Film Festival. However, it was back in 1979 that director Ridley Scott created a modern classic with his science fiction/horror masterpiece Alien. Revolutionizing production design, special effects and one of the greatest monsters to ever appear on screen, he set the standard for filmmakers in the years to come. Alien also assembled a cast that went on to incredible careers and launched its untraditional lead, Sigourney Weaver, into Hollywood stardom and feminist icon for generations. 

The stage version as depicted in Alien on Stage played in Dorset, England to a crowd of 20 and launched nobody into the limelight. But as fate would have it, two filmmakers, Lucy Harvey and Danielle Kummer were in attendance that night and unbeknownst to anyone, something big was on the horizon.

The troupe know as the “Paranoid Dramatics” had been entertaining crowds with their holiday pantomimes with such productions as Robin Hood. Playwright Luc Hayward decided to try something a lot more ambitious this time, so he chose a story near and dear to him, Alien. Then it was just a matter of figuring out how to pull it off on a shoestring budget and with a cast of amateur performers. Order 937 was deployed to investigate a Dorset bus crew displayed unusual levels of creativity….

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Under the direction of Dave Mitchell, over the course of a year, they developed the script, created the sets and learned their lines (sort of, looking at you Jason). On opening night, crickets, however, behind the scenes their little production was growing a fan base. Eventually with the perseverance of the filmmakers and a bit of crowdfunding, the little troupe from Dorset was invited to London to perform their show on the West End (London’s Broadway). So begins the countdown to their London premiere.

One of the aspects of Alien on Stage that I adored was the way Harvey and Kummer captured the true aspect of amateur theatre. With spare bedrooms, garages being used to house sets, the thrift store and eBay scavenges to provide costumes. Granddad Ray constructing the sets in his garage brings another level of charm and family dynamic to this DIY story. I found myself rooting for these creatives (behind and in front of the camera) to succeed. 

The devotion of the actors was something to aspire to as well. From day jobs at the bus station, to rehearsals and in some cases prop building after that. It is painfully clear how much dedication and pride this production meant to the cast and crew. It’s no wonder that during rehearsals everyone was moving a little slowly when their break times were over. Through it all, the camera catches the playfulness and close relationships the “Paranoid Dramatics” have with one another. 

Lydia Hayward as Ripley does a fantastic job playing the role and her presence on stage really shines. Scott Douglas pulls double duty in the role of Kane and the Xenomorph and seems to revel in the roles. My favorite character, and the one I most identified with was Pete Lawford. A night shift supervisor who when not working, created all the special effects for the performance in a spare bedroom in his flat.

The Alien suit, the face hugger and the baby Xenomorph were all hand crafted with care and attention to detail that he states is, “what Ridley would do, but a more basic format.” The pride and craftsmanship really hammer home the reverence for the original film and the devotion to making the production special. 

With the drama of cast not knowing their lines, sound effect issues, being locked out of rehearsal spaces, how little they know about professional theatre. Coupled with the stress of working a full-time job and dedicating the time and energy to not making a mockery of their craft. You can feel their overwhelming sense of history, and the magnitude for what they’re about to embark on. Which really sets the tension and anxiety levels into overdrive as the third act proceeds.

I found myself sitting up and moving about while watching as if I myself was about to perform on the big stage. The director captured the pre-show butterflies in a way, that I found myself sweating as the audience piled into for the sold-out performance. I, too wanted to run off to the back ally and have a drink and a smoke to settle my nerves. 

Alien on Stage is a delight and a love letter to anyone who felt out of their element but still swung for the fences. Watching the final act, I felt like a member of that first audience that experienced the creativity, ingenuity and courage it took for this troupe of bus drivers to share their craft with the world. I hope to see this family of actors again as they embark on their next journey and as one of the directors stated, “It was the right piece of art for the right audience”. And this audience wants and encore. 4.5/5

★★★★★

Alien on Stage is now streaming as part of Fantasia’s 25th International Film Festival. You can watch the trailer below and be sure to follow ScaryNerd for more of all things horror, sci-fi and more.

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