Twonkey’s Zipwire to Zanzibar – Laughing Horse @ Dragonfly

Whether it’s a night train to Liechtenstein or basket weaving in Peru, you can guarantee a Twonkey show will have little or nothing to do with the topic in the title. So, this proceeds with scant reference to Zipwires or Zanzibar and tonight doesn’t even feature Twonkey – he’s dead! A tin of contaminated condensed milk… no struggle… probably in the library, without Colonel Mustard as a witness. Fear not, his widow, Twonketta—replete with hair-bows, heels, painted nails and pop socks—is here to guide us through the labyrinthine ‘structure’ of the annual experience.

Google synonyms for ‘strange’, ‘surreal’, or ‘weird’ and you still won’t find words to describe this. Upon departure, one’s head is full of ‘incidents’, just not necessarily in the right order. There was a song containing sage advice for anyone contemplating Arthur’s Seat this month: You Don’t Need A Rucksack To Ramble. There was the usual public information piece—this year regarding how the new town of Cumbernauld came into being. The (dreaded) Ship’s Wheel exposed some of the audience’s adult peccadillos; one member was bitten by Dracula, and the Transylvanian Finger Fantasies did their best, but it looked like the audience member misinterpreted the instructions.

And another year has passed, but Steve Martin—despite being the proud owner of a crystal ball—is still bereft of ideas for his next film. Maybe representing Steve’s challenged cogitations, this was a slow burn, but it drew one in. Two-thirds of the way through, it was revealed that the Zipwire to Zanzibar was the rollercoaster of a rival funfair raising commercial issues with Twonketta and the lovechild of Shakin’ Stevens and Cicciolina, Tutti Kanutti.

Tutti is clearly talented on the harmonica, but the stroke she pulls on the Zipwire to Zanzibar eclipses any musical diversions she may have performed. But no plot spoilers—for this was a melancholic, nay, tragic tale, bookended by some sensitive poetry to chill everyone out after a Springsteen-esque, stadium-ready medley described by Twonketta as her Super Bowl moment.

There were just two questions to ponder: had Tutti faked her death… but, of more sinister import, has Twonkey reprised Bobby Ewing’s manoeuvre of yesteryear?

Running at Dragonfly (Other Room) Aug 5th – 10th, 12th – 17th, 19th – 24th, at 20.15 (8.15pm in old money)

Reviewer: Roger Jacobs

Reviewed: 5th August 2025

North West End UK Rating: