Eva Peroni: Jungled comedy review – Confidently goofy
Tackling her Livingston roots, a getaway to Costa Rica and compulsory heterosexuality, Eva Peroni is eccentric and chaotic
Eva Peroni’s catholic upbringing in Livingston wouldn’t logically have led her to be the person she is today. She admits to being a ‘female chav’ in recovery, with all the former symptoms: fake tan, fake lashes and fake orgasms. Jungled is a messy and relentlessly silly account of Peroni’s journey of self-discovery across borders. With a family full of radical leftists and criminals, unorthodoxy is in her blood. Motivated by her repulsion towards Scottish men and drawn to a party lifestyle, she moved to Costa Rica aged 17. But, to her surprise, Latin American men proved just as unappealing. In the arms of a Panamanian lover, she discovered her great straight experiment had failed.
Today, with her curly pixie cut and collection of button-up tops, the queer comedian is proudly out of the closet. And despite having plenty of criticism for the excessive roundabouts and conservative politics of her hometown, she embraces her Scottish roots in this Fringe debut, going so far as to quiz the audience on their patriotic instincts. Perhaps due to her early adventures, she comes across as confidently goofy on stage, rattling off puns and Scooby-Doo references. Jungled may be chaotic, but Peroni proves she has a natural home on stage.
Eva Peroni: Jungled, Gilded Balloon Teviot, until 30 August, 4.40pm; picture: Ethan Doherty.