Production images of Jack Baldwin, Laurence Pears and Charlie Ives, rehearsal image of Charlie Richards.
in 1993, Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park was the peak of technical achievement in movie making, crammed full of special effects and action sequences beyond much of what had been seen before. Now, with such advances in technology, it would be easy to look back at it and call it basic in comparison, and most would probably agree with you. But that basic-ness here lights a spark that saw creative ensemble Recent Cutbacks strip away that award winning 90’s technology and replace it with a bundle of household items and homemade props for a shot by shot parody of the famous movie, performed by just two actors and a foley artist.
Samuel L Jackson’s famous line as the chain smoking chief engineer of the dinosaur theme park, ‘Hold Onto Your Butts’, both becomes the title of this hilarious production and sets the tone; it only gets sillier from here. The 127 minute movie becomes a whirlwind 75 (roughly) minute stage show. Helicopters are illustrated by spinning umbrellas, a single door frame becomes the iconic park jeeps, characters are portrayed by hats, backpacks and ties around the hands of performers and dinosaurs are brought to life with the use of bike helmets and traffic cones. It’s genius in its simplicity and as the action speeds up, the props fly and the hilarity builds.
Two performers take to the stage and play every character, from Jeff Goldblum’s Mathematician Dr. Ian Malcolm and Laura Dern’s Ellie, to the children Tim and Lex to the dinosaurs themselves. In mere seconds they change character with a switch of position or sunglasses, recreating moments that any fan of the film would instantly recognise. Jack Baldwin, at this performance, shared the multitude of roles with Charlie Richards with the pair having the audience in stitches throughout as they bounced around the Arcola theatre with a seemingly boundless energy. Baldwin’s Goldblum impression was particularly impressive with Richards’ take on Tim proving very popular with the delighted audience. They are accompanied by Charlie Ives, the highly skilled Foley artist, who watches the action unfold and matches every moment with the perfect sound, from the rustling of cutlery to some wonderful dinosaur roars.
What is clear to see is just how much fun the cast are having, with improvised moments and stifled giggles blending in perfectly with the action as the three performers bounce off of each others energy. And that sense of fun is shared with the audience through moments of interaction and thrills as the cast race around the space to make appearances through different areas. This is a production that doesn’t take itself too seriously as the genius of it lies in its silliness. A party hat can be a dinosaur horn, stairways can be mimed, and household items can make all sorts of noises.
You don’t need to be a Jurassic Park expert to get this production, the jokes land perfectly whether you are a devoted fan or not with the references crystal clear. Hold Onto Your Butts creates a sense of it all being about having a good laugh, and you are guaranteed to have just that with this hilariously funny adventure.
Whilst the show’s run at the Arcola Theatre may now be over, the dinosaurs will return with Hold Onto Your Butts heading out on a UK Tour with tickets available here https://holdontoyourbutts.com/uk-tour/
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