By JESSICA NEU
Directed by Hal Chambers and written and performed by Richard Marsh, Yippee Ki Yay The Parody Celebration of Die Hard is a clever one-man show that brings the iconic 1988 film to life. The film’s status as a Christmas movie is still debated to this day, but Marsh’s show leans into the movie’s Christmas spirit. The show delivers a dose of nostalgia for the film’s veteran fans. It is a clever introduction for those less familiar with the franchise.
Marsh hails from the United Kingdom and describes himself as a Die-Hard superfan. He begins the show by explaining that he met his wife via a Die Hard discussion board on Reddit. From there, he cleverly weaves autobiographical tales with reenactments of Die Hard scenes. Throughout this reenactment, Marsh takes on the difficult task of portraying nearly all the characters from the action-packed film. Marsh first brings to life the seemingly indestructible John McClane (originally portrayed by Bruce Willis). With a raspy tone and sardonic wit, Marsh takes us to the start of the film when McClane arrives in Los Angeles to attempt to reconcile with his estranged wife, Holly (originally played by Bonnie Bedelia). Marsh seamlessly shifts into a cocaine-fueled Holly before introducing us to “the German who speaks like Prince Harry before he moved to LA,” Hans Gruber (originally played by Alan Rickman). With imaginary guns blazing, Marsh went into full German mode, even offering a “gesundheit” to an audience member without missing a beat. Marsh even nails off-duty police officer Al Powell (originally played by Reginald VelJohnson), who gets called in to investigate a hostage situation.
With only a few kitschy props, intelligent lighting patterns, smoke, and a perfectly timed Annie Lennox song, Marsh sustains a relentless pace of weaving between characters and his own personal story for 75 minutes. His ability to execute different voices, character traits, and themes proves his versatility as an actor.
Marsh’s own tales of his marriage and subsequent fatherhood make Yippie Ki Yay relatable to all audience members and adds an emotional depth to the film. Die Hard proved to be a transformative part of Marsh’s life. He and his wife quoted the film on their first date on Christmas Eve, and they enjoyed watching it together for years to come while indulging in KFC. The film would continue to play a role in their life together as they navigate the fluidity of marriage, parenthood, and growing older.
Marsh proves that you do not need a flashy set or ensemble cast to bring an iconic action film to life. With just a little imagination, an explosive amount of humor, a witty script, and impeccable timing, Marsh manages to captivate audiences and bring Die Hard to life. Do not be deterred if you have never seen any of the Die Hard films. Newcomers will enjoy a hilarious show that will leave you laughing out loud, curious to learn more about each character, and yelling “Yippie Ki Yay” with all the die-hard Die Hard fans.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Pittsburgh CLO’s presentation of Yippee Ki Yay (the parody celebration of Die Hard) is at the Greer Cabaret Theater now through December 2 – 21, 2025. Tickets available at: https://pittsburghclo.culturaldistrict.org/production/103570
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Reviews
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