Philip McNiven, Matt Walker and Rick Batalla (Photo by Ashley Erikson)
Reviewed by Martín Hernández
The Colony Theatre
Through December 21
RECOMMENDED
Contrary to some opinions, the 1988 Bruce Willis blockbuster Die Hard IS a Christmas movie. Why else would the Troubadour Theater Company pick this time-honored classic — again — as musical parody fodder, this time for its 30th Anniversary season’s holiday extravaganza? Adapted, choreographed, and directed by the ever loony Matt Walker, my favorite Christmas flick is transformed into a hilarious theatrical romp. Reworking songs by the rock band Heart for this new revision, Walker and his fellow Troubies pull out all the comedy stops as they skewer 1980s action movies, popular culture, and hairstyles.
In case you have not seen the movie, on Christmas Eve, 1988, a nefarious band of Europeans crash a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza, a Japanese conglomerate’s Los Angeles outpost. Initially thought to be terrorists out for ransom, they really want to crack open the company’s vault to steal $640 million in negotiable bearer bonds — whatever those are. They murder executives, take hostages, and break a lot of glass. Unbeknownst to them, an NYPD detective just happens to be in the building. He turns out to be a fly in the ointment, a monkey in the wrench, a pain in the ass. You get it.
Walker plays the droll John McClane, the cop in town to fix the rocky relationship with his wife Holly (a well-voiced Chelie Denton), who has been in L.A. and working for Nakatomi Corp. for six months (“What About Love” and “Never.”) Meanwhile, we meet criminal mastermind Hans Gruber (Rick Batalla), introduced to the strains of “Barracuda,” whose German accent and too-tight leather pants have him displaying outlandish verbal and physical stunts.
In a sly nod to ballet dancer Alexander Gudonov, who played a role in the movie, Phillip McNiven’s Karl prances, pirouettes, and plies across the stage. Meanwhile, Beth Kennedy as Deputy Chief Dwayne Robinson sometimes appears to forget what movie she’s in, at times parodying lines from another well-known 80s film entirely
Lithe dancer Luis Martinez camps it up in the Latina housekeeper role. Clinton Roane does good work as McClane’s limo driver Argyle, safecracker Theo, and LAPD sergeant and McClane ally Al Powell, notably in a scene where Argyle and Theo engage in a ludicrous altercation. (Regrettably, a key Japanese character is played by a non- Asian actor.)
The mayhem is enhanced by Ryan Whyman’s punchy musical direction and designer German Diaz’s inventive props, which includes Argyle’s limousine, Al’s police cruiser and farcical firearms. Suzanne Narbonne’s wig designs are gelatin- and Aqua Net-infused delights. Douglass Leadwell’s costume designs are inspired — everything from the crooks’ ugly Christmas sweaters to Hans’s zany epaulets and Karl’s intriguing ballet tights. Walker augments the onstage shenanigans with various clips from the movie, projected on an upstage screen behind Whyman’s impressive four-piece band.
Elevated platforms on either side of the stage come in handy for some funny fight scenes, especially one involving John and Karl (“If Looks Could Kill.”) The jokes are abundant; if one fails to land, there is another right behind it, including several yanked from today’s headlines. Walker sports a gold penalty flag which he throws on stage when a line is missed — but that seldom happens, as the cast is adept at improvising their way out of those jams.
The Colony Theater, 555 N. 3rd St., Burbank; Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, Sat.-Sun., 4 pm and 7:30 pm; thru Dec. 21. www.troubie.com, www.colonytheatre.org,
