Review: Hold on to Your Butts, Fringe 2024

As incredible as it may seem, no dinosaurs are in the photograph below. There are actually two humans. 

Importantly, there are three humans in “Hold on to Your Butts”, even if we really only have two running around in front of a black sheet.

In “Hold on to Your Butts”, comedians recreate all the scenes in Jurassic Park. They do so with lots of talent and imagination and with no budget. Some paper party hats, an umbrella and some swimming goggles are used to recreate dinosaurs. Sometimes, a tie around a wrist is a necessary stand-in for a Jurassic Park character.

The heroic third member of the troupe provides sound effects, including helicopter sounds, keyboard clattering, and dinosaur roars (in the distance).

It’s a hoot. The audience was in stitches. I sat in front of someone who claimed to their friends they’d never ever seen Jurassic Park; sadly, he escaped when the audience became a crowd funnelling out of the Pleasance, so I didn’t get to ask whether they followed along and enjoyed it. However, in that same flocking of tourists and Jurassic Park fans, I heard nothing but praise.

Tone

Wacky and respectful.

It was amusing and richly detailed.

“Hold on to Your Butts” is an honourable homage to Jurassic Park. Another anecdote I have from the chatter of an engaged audience is that I overheard one woman tell her mates that Jurassic Park is her all-time favourite movie, and she loved this Sweded stage show.

I’ll concede that “Hold on to Your Butts” has a selection bias in it’s favour. If you hated Jurassic Park, then why would you go to this Fringe show? Don’t do it. 

The flip side is Jurassic Park is a movie worthy of geek and generational respect. 

The tone is fun, with shared inside jokes and messing around and pretending to be dinosaurs. Trust me, though, the genuine respect for the source material came through loud and clear. This was even true while lovingly needling Jeff Goldblum.

Lastly, there is an element of surprise. You might know every line of the movie, but you don’t yet know how the  Recent Cutbacks troupe and £2.50 can create a majestic tyrannosaurus or whether the island’s beautiful waterfall could be represented at all. 

What to expect

If you’ve never been to Pleasance Forth before, then keep going. Plough through the first courtyard, get into the second one, and then angle to the back left, down the surely dangerous when wet stairs, and look left. You’ll see the entrance there, although the queue might stretch around the corner. 

There are stairs to climb, but I saw a wheelchair, and I suspect (but cannot confirm) elevator access. 

The seats at Forth are high and stacked, you’d be unlucky if you don’t get a good view of the action. I was unlucky and actually missed loads. 

My view was so bad, but my enjoyment was so high, which is a testament to the qualifications of the purposely low-fx show.

There was no audience interaction in the traditional sense, but I felt the ferns of a Jurassic tree as I climbed it. A hunting raptor screeched into my ear. Really, it’s a miracle I wasn’t torn open by a razor-like claw.

Halfway through the show, I began to worry that I’d messed up on the logistics, and it was longer than an hour. It’s an hour long. Phew! Although it takes a geological age for everyone to file out of this well-ventilated theatre.

Overall

I think I’ve already used the phrase “Wacky and respectful”, and I’m going to steal it again for the summary. Those are odd bedfellows, and yet that’s what  Recent Cutbacks managed.

I’ve also used the word “hoot”. Again, I’ll re-use it like a Hollywood sequel, searching for new ideas.

“Hold on to Your Butts” is a hoot. If you’re a Jurassic Park fan like there rest of us, then get your butt to the Pleasance.