Before age ten, Marina di Marzo was an unstoppable romantic force. After eleven? A cautionary tale.
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/marina-di-marzo-love-in-the-time-of-fifth-grade
You describe yourself as using humour to explore your Italian upbringing and pop culture – how does Love in the Time of Fifth Grade fit into these career throughlines?
Love in the Time of Fifth Grade is all about paying homage to the pop culture and the Italian heritage that raised me. I start by describing my sexual awakenings (all obscure animated leading men from the 90s) and my holy trinity of inspiration (Chef Gordon Ramsay, rapper Eminem and actor Sharon Stone). As I tell my personal stories, I weave in major monolith moments like when Bratz took over Barbies or when Abercrombie and Fitch took an obsessive hold of my mother. I also describe my annual trips to Naples, Italy to visit my 80 year-old grandpa where — if you can imagine — we’d shop for my bras together. I’m still trying to figure out if that’s normal over there.
How do you think the modern dating scene has changed love and relationships?
It excites me that online trends seem to indicate a yearning for the analogue way of things. As someone who grew up alongside the burgeoning internet, it was once fascinating to see new features and platforms that could connect us romantically. I used to praise dating apps because it was like I got to read a resume before a job interview. But read that sentence back — is that how we want to describe love? I think a lot of people are growing disillusioned with the isolation the digital world can bring and are now trying to find a balance. How we view love and relationships is ever evolving but it always comes down to acting on that magical chemistry you feel right in your gut.
How does it feel to look back at your childhood through comedy in the way you do?
First — it is so freeing to examine all those embarrassing moments from my childhood/early years that once held my mind so captive and decide to release them. For example, I bring up my virginity story in the show, which was something that was so humiliating for such a long time. I didn’t even tell my closest girlfriends about it. Having that check-in with myself, where I said, you know what, I’m ready to share this and shed the shame, is incredibly moving. Second — it’s so fun to reflect on how I once viewed the world and how that’s changed over time. I used to think liking the same candy was a strong foundation for a relationship. Maybe that’s still true.
Why do you think it’s important to connect to our inner child?
Children navigate a difficult path: your personality is as raw, as pure as it can be but you have to shape yourself to the customs of being a “proper” adult. That conditioning is important. But you can’t finish the loop of becoming an adult without reconnecting to your inner child on the other side. Reminding yourself of your core identity – of who you really are. I ignored my inner child for a long time and it led me to isolation and confusion. Realizing that primary school me had great instincts allowed me to become the fully loving person I was always meant to be. By closing the loop, you can redefine your past on your own terms. It’s the best gift you could ever give yourself.
Has the piece changed going from New York to Edinburgh? How and why?
The biggest change is getting used to saying primary school instead of elementary. But in all seriousness, my show is loaded with pop culture references. I’m doing a lot of work to figure out which of these references translate to a U.K. audience. Do the Scottish know what Dairy Queen is? Luckily, I’ve spent a lot of time in Italy so at the very least I have an understanding of Europeans. Beyond that, I can’t wait to see how the show will change once I’m performing at the Fringe. In New York, I might get the chance to do the show once a month but performing 14 days in a row is a whole new experience for me that’s sure to change the show in ways I can’t predict.
Why use comedy as a vehicle for exploring serious themes?
As Mia Thermopolis in “The Princess Diaries” said, “the only thing to fear is fear itself.” People often say the opposite of fear is love. I think it’s laughter. It’s important to feel pain, anger or hurt. But when the time is right, laughter is there to snap us out of it — to give us perspective. It also keeps audiences engaged. Few people really want to sit through an hour long bummer. Humor lifts us up so we can open up to taking on the weight of someone else’s story. I once had a teacher tell me, “laughter comes from the shock of joy.” I think it’s shocking to find joy at our lowest. But ultimately, it’s human and a reminder that feelings (good and bad) are temporary.