Ostrich Park

Reviewed by Jennifer Walton

The vibe of Ostrich Park is high-energy sketch comedy meets all things Jurassic Park, but with ostriches. 

Bring your “famous Jurassic Park moments” bingo card to see this show produced by perennial Hamilton Fringe favourites The Plot Hole Company, and you’ll leave with a full card and plenty of opportunities to laugh. This zany parody of the blockbuster franchise is written by James Allen and directed by Allen and Lucia Crespo with a stand-out fast-paced comedic tour-de-force ensemble that is fully committed to comedic chaos. 

Each actor brings big energy to their film-inspired character. Careful attention has been paid to costuming, so we instantly recognize each character’s film equivalent. James Allen as Alan and Jasmine Mino as Ellie are a great comedic duo, lured to Ostrich Park as a potential wedding venue. Brett Wolfe as Muldoon the game warden, Rob Mines (Hammond), Matt Moore (Nedry), Allison Dickey (Dawn the lawyer), Kyle Billie (Ian), Harry Darlington (Henry), and Philip Krusto (Ray) all do a great job of escalating the mayhem that is Ostrich Park.  

As Jurassic Park is nothing without the dinosaurs, the same is true of Ostrich Park. We are introduced to the Ostriches, who seem benign enough at the beginning, only to morph into gene-spliced killer Ostrich monsters by the end. The puppeteers who bring the Ostriches to life are on point. Matt Moore, in particular, embodies his transformation with a highly effective and absurdly amusing use of his monstrous wingspan. 

Even if you're not a Jurassic Park aficionado, don’t worry, there is much to love about this fun and fast-paced parody that is sure to be a hit of the Fringe. Don’t forget to snag some branded Ostrich Park swag to complete your visit. This show is quite the ride! 

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Event Details

Age Suitability: Parental Guidance (ages 13+)

Genre: Theatre—Comedy, Puppetry

Run Time: 60 mins

Directors

James Allen & Lucia Crespo

Playwright

James Allen

Stage Manager

Teryn Lawson

Warnings

Coarse Language, Violence