Arts

Homo Alone Review

Home Alone is a beloved Christmas movie. We all know the story of Kevin, who is left behind by his parents and must defend his home from thieves. Now The Other Palace has created an adult parady about the 1990 hit comedy film.

Following on from the highly successful ‘A Very, Very Bad Cinderella’ last year, Jodie Prenger (Coronation Street, I’d Do Anything), along with Bobby Delaney (Zog and the Flying Doctors; As You Like It), are back writing this year’s The Other Palace Studio Christmas show. Expect the overall plot of the film and many famous scenes and quotes, but with twists and extra characters added. This can make it lose sense at times though the production is aware of this, poking fun at themselves and breaking the fourth wall. It had the audience laughing when asked what do we expect with just four actors and theatre budgets being cut. As one would expect with the name, there’s sexual references and innuendo so The Other Palace recommends audiences are 16+.  There’s two moments that stick out as odd including Kevin doing a strip tease (he’s 8, a very tall 8 year old- which again the script pokes fun of asking for someone shorter to have been cast) and a moment of sexualised tension with Kate (his mother). Given the comedy, on at least two occasions members of the cast broke character, which just made the situation even more hilarious. Given it’s Christmas in London, there’s also a few panto moments including audience participation- if you sit in the front row you might just be enlisted to help Kevin defeat the thieves.

Homo Alone is also part musical with famous Christmas and pop songs reimagined with parady lyrics. Of course, the original movie soundtrack also has a makeover too. The music and witty lyrics were one of the best parts of the production.

The other is the talented cast who keep up the energy throughout all their multi-role changes. Elliot Evans brings a cheeky charm to Kevin. Allie Dart’s Kate is inspired by Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek, with her exaggerated accent never failing to make the audience laugh while Jack North plays over-the-top homosexual dad Peter, who tries more and more ways to not be kissed by Kate. Dart and North also team up as the bumbling thieves Harry and Marv respectively, with excellent comic timing. Steph Asamoah plays older brother Buzz as well as other characters not in the film. She delivers some amazing vocals in Act 2.

Louie Whitemore’s set design is a living room decorated for Christmas complete with family portraits, which open for faces to pop through and sing. A memorable moment is Chris McDonell’s lighting when the thieves are watching all the timers go on in the prop houses. The famous booby-trap scene is recreated superbly. Though the Studio space is a small stage but director Alex Jackson makes full use of it- ensuring the cast comes out to the audience and even uses the balcony level for Kevin’s escape scene. It took me a few minutes to get into the performance but when I did the two hours (with a shirt intermission) flew by.

Homo Alone is a festive treat paying respect to the original while making it uniquely its own. You’ll be laughing pretty much the whole way through and leave with the feel good message about Christmas being about family.

Homo Alone is performing until 5th January with tickets from £25.

Address: The Other Palace, 12 Palace Street

London, SW1E 5JA

Website: https://theotherpalace.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotherpalace

Written by Caitlin Neal