2023’s Fringe sell-out Twilight parody, Dusk: A Bite-Size Love Story, returns in a shorter one-hour format as the “roasting of Edwin and Bea”, a collection of highlights from the 2023 show (and, by extension, of the most famous moments from the Twilight franchise), linked together by the couple’s daughter Regina (or Renesmee in the Sacred Texts).
To anyone not still living the green-tinged mouth-breathing life, this might be a little confusing as the show definitely expects you to know who everyone is – or rather, who everyone is replacing – but clearly this was not an issue for the audience of (mostly) twilight fans, who were howling with laughter throughout.
All the more well-known aspects get skewered. One Bea’s performance (there is more than one: we all need stunt doubles) is 60% lip-biting and manages to be both very-over-the-top and very recognisably Kristen Stewart-y, and there is sparkly skin, while the depression chair song (parodying the montage from New Moon) might be the best part of the show. More niche is stuff like the Charlie-Carlisle romance: was/is that a major ship? The show also makes good use of projection for backdrops and some extra scenes and montages.
Some nicely choreographed musical numbers and a suitably hammy (or is that not vegi-vampire enough?) cast make this silly love letter a show that no twilight fan will want to miss.
Dusk: A Bite-Size Celebration is running at Greenside @ George Street until August 24th (not 18th). Tickets can be found at: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/dusk-a-bite-size-celebration
Reviewer: Oliver Giggins
Reviewed: 15th August 2024
North West End UK Rating:
Rating: 4 out of 5.
