Billy Twinkle: Requiem for A Golden Boy

The world's master of marionettes, Canada's Ronnie Burkett, is back in Sydney with his new show, Billy Twinkle: Requiem for A Golden Boy.
It has been an incredible journey for Burkett who has been captivated by the world of puppetry from age seven, when he looked up puppetry in his world book encyclopedia. Burkett formed his adult orientated puppetry company, Ronnie Burkett's Theatre Of Marionettes, in 1986.
For his latest show, Burkett has come up with an engaging storyline. Burkett plays Billy Twinkle, a cruise ship puppeteer who has seen much better days. After entertaining cruise ship audiences for many years he is ignominiously fired. Twinkle feels desolate and becomes suicidal. All seems to be lost until his deceased former mentor, Sid Diamond, comes back into his life as a hand puppet, talks Twinkle's head around, and gives him back his sparkle.
The show had plenty of highlights; Burkett's charismatic stage presence, his wonderful craft work, the fantastic marionettes, a great set to work in, including the quaint miniature stage, and Burkett's playful, and, at times, blue, humour. Burkett even throws into the mix some quintessential Shakespeare.
Burkett's show plays the Playhouse, Sydney Opera House until October 17.
David Kary