Before the show, the lobby at The Colony Theatre is abuzz with festive drinks, holiday sweaters and giddy smiles everywhere. When it’s your first time seeing the Troubies, it's hard to understand exactly why there is such an electric feeling before the performance. After the final curtain call, you’ll find yourself in the know, inevitably joining a well-deserved standing ovation.
The Troubadour Theater Company and its performers, informally known as the Troubies, have a devoted following of theater goers who clamor to see the company’s special brand of comedic musical productions: a mashup of classic stories (anything from Shakespeare to Die Hard) with the music of a classic band or album (such as James Brown, Aerosmith or Billy Joel).
Their latest installment, “Home Alone-ly Hearts Club Band,” sets the story of Home Alone to The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Whether you are a fan of The Beatles, Home Alone, or both, the show is extremely entertaining. Lovers of the film will appreciate the reenactment of iconic scenes as well as sharp commentary about flaws in the film and parodies of its memorable characters.
Beatles fans will be equally satisfied, even with the changed lyrics. The songs are about the misadventures of Kevin McCallister, but the essence of The Beatles music remains intact thanks to The Troubadorchestra, the wonderful four-piece band that performs all the music on stage, directed by Ryan Whyman.
Most of the amazing Troubies perform several roles, sometimes with a wink and a nod to the audience. Matt Walker, who also adapted the story and directs, stands out as Kevin McCallister. Despite being a middle-aged man, or perhaps because of it, he is hilarious as a “6- to 8-year-old boy.”
Beth Kennedy plays Kevin’s mother, Kate McCallister. Without doing a Catherine O’Hara impression, she faithfully recreates the character from the film with a great costume and wig, along with her stellar performance.
Similarly, Rick Batalla plays Harry Lime, Joe Pesci’s iconic villain from the film. He does the impossible by playing tribute to Pesci while also elevating the character with brilliant improv and crowd work.
The Troubies’ unique style is reminiscent of theatrical comedy of old: a combination of acting, singing, dancing and acrobatics. They regularly break the fourth wall, most notably if you arrive late to the theater. As the zany chaos continues into the second act, characters from previous shows make some very fun cameos.
After one Troubies show, you will definitely want to be first in line to purchase tickets for their next musical comedy extravaganza.
The Troubadour Theater Company’s “Home Alone-ly Hearts Club Band” continues at The Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third St., Burbank, through Dec. 22, with shows Thursday and Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 4:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 to $65 and can be purchased by calling the box office at (818) 558-7000 or visiting ColonyTheatre.org or Troubie.com. Run time is 90 minutes (depending on improvisation), including intermission.
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