In the month or so before the Fringe, I was paging through the infinite list of shows, wondering what I’d choose to fill my already-packed Edinburgh itinerary. When I came across the short summary of Red Ink, it was a no brainer. I booked a ticket. The glitter on the program did not wear off upon watching it.
The equally tragic and uplifting story behind the making of Red Ink is really what drew me to it. Produced by Elliot Page and PAGEBOY Productions, Sara Ramirez, Breaking the Binary Theatre, Queer Arts Coalition and Nic Cory, Cecilia Gentili’s Red Ink is an autobiographical show that – through an artful dose of comedy – follows Gentili through an abusive childhood in 1970s Argentina all the way to her move to New York, where she transitioned and became a sex worker. Gentili – who appeared on the well-known TV show Pose – lived a life that was so deeply in the service of others, it is impossible to think what else she might have achieved if she had lived another decade. Among many other things, she became a skilled lobbyist and policy advisor, founding multiple organizations and fighting for the rights of trans people and sex workers for decades.
She was also a gifted storyteller and, at the encouragement of close friends, wrote two one-woman shows, including Red Ink, and an autobiography titled “Faltas: Letters to Everyone in My Hometown Who Isn’t My Rapist.” At the time of her sudden death in 2024, Red Ink was just about to be premiered at the Public Theatre in New York City. When the producers decided to remount the show, they decided to cast Chiquitita – a Brooklyn drag artist and close friend of Gentili’s – in the role. After watching the show – brilliantly woven through with a sense of humor and heart that could only be shared by a best friend – it wasn’t difficult to see the true talent that makes Chiquitita the clear and only choice to tell Gentili’s story.
I have this stripped-back hour of smashing stand-up and heartfelt storytelling to thank for introducing me to a woman, trans icon, artist, and activist whose legacy I will not soon forget. I’m looking forward to the day that this show gets the big stage and audience that it deserves.
Cecilia Gentili’s RED INK is a part of the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe and plays until 25 August. Get tickets here.