Alien on Stage
SIFF Says: An irresistible real-life mix of Waiting for Guffman and H.R. Giger, a crew of bus drivers from Dorset take their amateur dramatic production of Ridley Scott’s 1979 masterpiece Alien all the way to London for a one-night-only West End performance.
Stranger Says: What an absolute charmer Alien on Stage is. The affectionate documentary centers on a group of small-town theater hobbyists who create a live panto version of the movie Alien, and then, through a twist of fame, have an opportunity to perform their show live on the West End, complete with their delightfully homemade special effects. Comparisons to Waiting for Guffman are inevitable, but this is its own creature with a wonderful, wholesome, and very modest heart. MATT BAUME