Margaret Thatcher Queen of Hollywood @ Assembly George Sq

Only at the Edinburgh Fringe could a concept like Margaret Thatcher, Queen of Hollywood flourish as it has done. It’s an amusingly absurd conceit, the old Prime Minister leaving her beloved country for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood – or as the impressively decorated sign at the back of the stage reads, Maggiewood. It is all about looking out for number one, after all! Really, modern Hollywood’s hyper-individualistic culture of selfies and selfishness might honestly be the best place for the frosty former PM. And she’s got the role of a lifetime: herself, in a musical remake of The Iron Lady!

Surrounded by an eclectic cast of Hollywood stereotypes (and also, Meryl Streep), Maggie must navigate the messy world of modern Hollywood in the pursuit of an Oscar. While 'The Iron Lady' remains immovable in her presence and performance, her two young female co-stars (Kathy Maniura and Rosalie Minnitt) do a lot of the heavy lifting as they swap at lightning speed between such roles as your stereotypical sleazy producer, a silent assistant named Sugar Tits, and a pair of Thatcher’s Gen-Z co-stars she quickly labels “sluts”. These stereotypes are used frequently and often uncritically, which could well earn them a few side-eyes from audiences.

Matt Tedford’s surprisingly sincere performance as Thatcher is the key to maintaining the show’s delicate balance of campiness and political commentary. Early in the show, Tedford advises us that a basic knowledge of late 20th century British politics is needed to understand some of the jokes. Truly, it’s surprisingly lacking in political commentary besides the odd joke about the show not being appropriate for “miners”. There are moments where the show tackles feminist issues and Hollywood’s unattainable beauty standards – even Maggie ends up getting some work done – but these moments are surface level at best.

In fairness, though, if you’re looking for in-depth political analysis, you’re in the wrong place. This is a musical, not an address to the House of Commons. There is no alternative but to settle in and let yourself enjoy the Iron Lady’s antics on stage and silver screen.

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Margaret Thatcher Queen of Hollywood, Assembly George Square Gardens (Piccolo), until 30 Aug, £15.50-£18.50