By Anne-Louise Fortune
Yippee Ki Yay (the Die Hard Parody) is a show that almost entirely does what it says in its title – albeit it has some surprises up its sleeve.
If you know the film starring Bruce Willis, then you know what you’re in for here. If you don’t, the spoilers are frequent. Rest assured; you will still understand what is going on.
Performed here by Darrel Bailey, who brings immense warmth to his performance, the story is told through performance poetry – specifically an AABB rhyming scheme, with very occasional asides to interact with the audience in ordinary prose.
Written by Richard Marsh, you would imagine it would be challenging enough to squeeze the plot of everyone’s favourite Christmas movie into 60 minutes. As well as achieving this, Marsh has also crafted a framing device regarding the performer’s character’s relationship with his wife, Jen.
As we learn more about the trajectory of this relationship, we learn more about the couple’s relationship with the movie and how a lapse in affection for the film mirrors a slow collapse in the closeness of the couple’s marriage.
Bailey acts out key moments and scenes from the movie: the waterfall reproduction is especially funny. His impersonation of Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber is a perfect parody. Getting fully into the John McClane vibe, by the end of the performance, Bailey has shed his plaid shirt and is dressed in a ‘blood-soaked’ white vest.
Performed with energy and verve, this is an excellent homage to Die Hard and the obsession that often arises within fandom.
Yippee Ki Yay continues at the Edinburgh Fringe until August 27th, before touring across the UK, followed by performances in selected US cities.
