It’s true, neither Posey Mehta, nor the delightfully gentle character Gloria is a gorilla—she says so more or less as soon as we meet her. However, she is living in the gorilla enclosure of Edinburgh Zoo.
Are bananas dangerous? Is getting all your life advice from Vogue poisonous? Is it okay to live as a gorilla, because that’s what people say you are, even if you are not? If you are locked in a cage but you have made it comfortable, are you really trapped? These big questions hang behind the action, underscoring a generous, life affirming and surreal hour in charming company.
Unlike many Gaulier-trained clowns, Mehta engages the audience without being in our faces or demanding, the style is much more conversational and doesn’t feel in any way forced. Posey is an assured, commanding presence on stage, always in control, but takes offers with openness and integrity. There were a few occasions where Mehta was presented with unexpected audience comments and yet she was entirely unfazed, welcoming and witty.
If you are looking for effortless, female-led contemporary clown comedy, look no further.