Edinburgh Fringe Review: Twinkle

C Cubed, Lawnmarket ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Philip Meeks’ play Twinkle has arrived back at the Fringe having appeared here in various iterations since it premiered with Tim Healy in the role of Harold Thropp way back in 2006.

Then it was called Twinkle, Little Star, now it’s simply, Twinkle, and that’s not all that has changed, Meeks has re-crafted his work into a tightly focussed 60 minutes, transforming it into a far more thoughtful reflection on life as a gay man back when equal rights were still a thing to be dreamed.

Harold is an aging panto dame, about to give a season of his Twankey but usurped from the star dressing rooms by a soap star and, to his disgust, a reality TV star. The world is changing and not only does he no longer fit in, he’s finding it hard to understand why.

Played by Dereck Walker, this Harold is and angry, lonely figure. A grumpy old man, bitter and emotionally battered from a life of uncertainty and fear.

What starts as a fond recollection of the pantomime greats and age-old traditions that must be observed quickly slips into a warts and all depiction of a life spent loitering with intent before finally settling down as the unacknowledged partner of the love of his life, the now departed Eric.

There’s a wonderfully natural flow to Meeks’ writing, which boasts waspish and pithy lines laced cleverly along the way.

And while it may be a tremendously sad tale, it does have a delicious payoff at the end. A nice twist that proves the icing on this particular theatrical cake, or should that be the Parisienne beaded wig on the Dame’s head.

Until August 27, 4.30pm

Credit: Líam Rudden Media