Ania Magliano, the co-host of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, presents an expertly crafted stand-up show exploring her journey toward a more embodied existence. Magliano’s profile has recently soared following her captivating performances on SNL UK’s Weekend Update, a satirical news segment that might remind older viewers of the legendary Two Ronnies. While it’s unlikely Corbett and Barker would have leveraged TV fame with a comedy set about embracing one’s own sexuality, times have indeed evolved. Magliano’s latest performance, “Peach Fuzz,” is a testament to her comedic prowess, featuring sharp jokes, an open and engaging personality, and masterful structuring. These elements are perfectly poised to attract the new audience she’s gained through her sharp wit on television to her live stage performances.
The central theme for the 28-year-old comedian revolves around her perceived disconnection from her own body and its experiences. In “Peach Fuzz,” Magliano expresses a longing for cultures that appear more attuned to their physicality than her own. However, the question arises: in the UK, are there truly any bodily sensations worth cherishing? While a clear answer might exist, Magliano reveals she is already undergoing therapy for her conflicted feelings on the matter. This is humorously illustrated through a wonderfully British and bewildered routine about an online sex influencer who claims to have experienced 27 consecutive orgasms. Later in the show, prompted by her therapist, Magliano engages in a moment of self-exploration with her own genitals, guided by an artfully positioned hand-mirror – a scene that playfully echoes Descartes’ philosophical musings on the mind-body problem.