Eating Pasta Off the Floor by Maria Grazia Affinito
Acacia Hall (10433 83 avenue) August 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23
Eating Pasta Off the Floor. Photo credit: Emily Gilbert photography
An interview with Maria Grazia Affinito.
Describe your show in five words.
Love Pasta? Love my show
Okay, now that we’re intrigued… what’s the longer description?
I usually let folks know that coming to see “Eating Pasta…” is like getting the cheapest ticket to Italy, since we travel to Italy during the show. Another reviewer gave a very thought full write up where he described “Eating Pasta Off the Floor” as “both funny and dramatic, its plot meandering through Maria Grazia’s upbringing before centering around a trip to southern Italy for a wedding — with her mother in tow. Finally, a chance to see her in the place she belongs — where she isn’t too loud, too blunt, too gruff, or too embarrassing. However, it soon becomes clear that Maria Grazia’s mother is a special case, even among her peers. She’s lived a hard life – harder than her daughter could have ever imagined, although not so different from her own in many ways. It’s one that lingers — like garlic — on the emotional palate, even after the meal is through”. – See more at: http://www.capilanocourier.com/art-shorts/eating-pasta-floor/#sthash.WiNSGagg.dpuf
Eating Pasta Off the Floor is such an interesting title for your show – what’s the background of the show’s title?
The title comes from a scene in the play where one of the characters is actually forced to eat pasta off the floor. I thought the title could capture the odd things that we sometimes experience in our childhood.
Eating Pasta Off the Floor addresses generational conflicts between mothers and daughters – what are the specific conflicts your show addresses?
My show brings up the conflicts between mothers and their daughters in a way that hopefully helps the daughters come to a place of understanding. Parents can often project their own dreams and hopes for us, be it with a positive intention, only to end up stifling, or criticizing the child’s efforts in a way that does not foster further growth. When there is chronic stress and trauma in a family system, it heavily impacts the children’s view of themselves, and the world. In short, we pass on everything to our children, even when we try not to.
Your background is in creative nonfiction work – what differences do you find in writing prose and writing for the stage?
Switching between prose and stage writing is a balance that I still find myself working through. When writing prose, the descriptive language is needed, and yet when writing for the stage the language is more dialogue driven and the mood of the scene is relayed by the acting rather than a description of a scene.
Anything else you want audiences to know about the show?
I think that anyone who has a mother, or a moment when a relative would just tend to push their buttons, this is the show to see. That would be everyone!
The 34th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival is August 13 – 23. Get your tickets at tickets.fringetheatre.ca.