Yippee Ki Yay at King’s Head Theatre

What if the 1988 action movie Die Hard (starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman) was an epic poem? It’s the question no one was asking – except, thankfully, Richard Marsh, the writer of Yippee Ki Yay. 

This is a spoken-word retelling of the classic film. And if that sounds like an insane premise it’s because it absolutely is. Who in their right mind would run about on a stage not only pretending to be all the different Die Hard characters but doing it all in rhyming verse?

On the other hand, it’s exactly as funny and entertaining as it sounds – maybe even more so. As actor Darrel Bailey switches between an impression of Bruce Willis doing John McClane and Alan Rickman doing Hans Gruber and Alan Rickman doing Hans Gruber doing an American accent. And interspersed in the Die Hard scenes is a story of a marriage between Darrel and Jen, who met and fell in love over their fandom of the movie.

Bailey is great. Having to jump between ten different accents is hardly an easy task in itself, but to do so while reciting an hour-long poem with a tonne of energy and vigour is even more impressive.

A few of the jokes feel a little forced, just awkward scripted lines not performed – or not possible to perform – with any natural charisma. But generally, the show has plenty of chuckles throughout. In fact, most of the writing is first-rate. Even those for whom the phrase “spoken-word performance” is filled with dread have nothing to worry about here. Of course, a lot of the writing relies on the audience having seen Die Hard. Many of the punchlines don’t seem like they would hit so hard if one didn’t know the plot, the quotes or who Carl is. 

Yippee Ki Yay is a fan’s love letter to Die Hard and fans will no doubt appreciate the plenty of laughs it has to offer. 

Jim Compton-Hall

Yippee Ki Yay is at King’s Head Theatre from 29^th November until 31^st December 2022. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.