Maria Grazia Affinito's "Eating Pasta off the Floor" is difficult to categorize. Her solo story of an American girl growing up with her crazy Italian mother fills up many hankies with tears while also providing countless laughs. Ms. Affinito is an accomplished comedienne and actor, as well as a trained singer, something that comes in handy as a central motif of her story. We have seen many solo performances, but this one takes big chances. We ride an involving and emotional roller coaster.
If this were it, it would be sufficient. "Eating Pasta" is wonderful.
But midway through her performance, Ms. Affinito breaks character and begins to talk about rape, her own and what clearly also happened to her mother. Once she speaks directly to us in her own voice, about such a serious subject, it is difficult for us to get back into the bodies and voices of her show characters.
So we wish she could deliver her message as Maria, or as Assunta, or LaLa, or a combination of this wonderful Italian cast she has assembled for us all to enjoy. We loved "Eating Pasta Off the Floor" and will anxiously await whatever Ms. Affinito does next. The present run at the Marsh has only two shows left. We encourage you to catch one of them.
RATINGS ☼ ☼ ☼ BANG
The San Francisco Theater Blog Awards Division Wards "Eating Pasta off the Floor" Three Stars with a BANGLE OF PRAISE. This is a special show that we believe will develop into something even more special as time goes by. The introductions to her Italian family on the train platform, the smell of wet concrete, olive picking, the bag of bones. So many memorable moments.
"Eating Pasta off the Floor"
The Marsh
1062 Valencia Street, San Francisco
Thursdays and Sundays through July 24 ONLY
$20-$35
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