Close-up : The Twiggy Musical @ Menier Chocolate Factory…

Last week, Darren, Stuart and I went to see the new Twiggy musical at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London’s glitzy London Bridge Quarter. 

Written by Ben Elton, who worked closely with Twiggy on the script, the story is largely an autobiographical one. It’s also a jukebox musical interspersed with Twiggy, as played by Elena Skye, singing and narrating the action.

The songs may be obvious standards, often randomly thrown together, and the acting a bit pantomime at times, but you get completely swept up in the sheer gusto of the performances. Clearly everybody is having a time of their lives on stage, and from what I can tell most people in the audience were too. 

If you’re looking for an insightful examination of what it is like to grow up as a young teenager in the full glare of the media spotlight yet be hidden in the long shadows cast by the male gaze, I’m not sure this is the show for you. Let’s just say predatory behaviour gets a rather easy ride. 

But if you’re looking for a broad, entertaining couple of hours in the company of some great songs, some great singing, some great dancing, and some cheesy one-liners with a mild sprinkling of politics then this is the night out for you.