Hold on to Your Butts is a theatrical recreation of Stephen Spielberg’s iconic 1993 dinosaur film which features only two actors and a Foley artist who creates sound effects live on stage. Presented by Recent Cutbacks, an ensemble of theatrical and digital comedy creators in New York, this show was named in Time Out New York’s Top 10 Comedy of the Year.
We spoke with the director, Kristin McCarthy Parker, about bringing this piece to life and making its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Tell us a bit about making this show
Hold On To Your Butts was inspired by our love of 90s action movies, and a goofy conversation at the bar one night where Nick kept quoting Jurassic Park. After the idea for the show was rejected by a reputable new work festival, we decided to just do it ourselves for one night only. That one night turned into ten years.
We largely devised the show using theatre and movement techniques that we were excited about, like mime. We experimented in the room to find the funniest and most creative solution to every epic action sequence from the film. We weren’t interested in recreating the film, but creating a live experience that felt as joyful as watching the film for the first time on a big screen. There was no money, so we sourced all our props from household items and literal trash bins.
Truthfully, we didn’t really know we had a hit until we put it on its feet in front of an audience. We just knew we were having tons of fun and finding creative fulfilment for ourselves.
Where did the idea to use a live Foley artist come from?
A lot of the architecture and objects in the show are either mimed or abstracted, e.g. an umbrella stands in for a helicopter. Foley helps the audience understand what they’re seeing and also fleshes out the world sonically. Unlike Foley in a movie or TV show, we like to have our Foley artist visible onstage. It’s fun to see how they’re making different noises and watch them work in tandem with the actors.
That dynamic has become an essential part of the show: the actors and the Foley artist playing off of each other, having way too much fun. It’s another way of us saying, “look, here’s the strings. We’re not hiding anything from you. Isn’t this great?”
What is the most difficult element or part of the show?
The physicality. Part of the joy in watching two people do a shot-for-shot parody is how hard they’re going to have to work to do it. But it’s a line between feeling fast and precise vs. feeling fast and frantic. Butts is athletic and sweaty, but never wants to feel out of control.
Which creative prop is your favourite?
I’m a big fan of the T Rex traffic cone tail. It’s so dumb, but it works perfectly and really highlights the T Rex character. It’s the perfect visual gag and really emphasizes our aesthetic.
How do you as a company keep each performance fun for yourselves?
The two performers are always bouncing new jokes off of each other, or trying to make each other laugh during certain moments. Butts is carefully structured, but there are plenty of moments where performers can riff on a joke. The show is as much about the chemistry between those two people + the Foley artist as anything, so them having fun is paramount.
Hold on to Your Butts is on at Pleasance Courtyard, Forth, 31 July – 26 Aug 2024 (not 12 & 19), 14.00 (15.00). For tickets go to https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/hold-on-to-your-butts