Where’s the fun and enjoyment in a British dining experience? According to Stefania Licari, it’s relatively soulless compared to an Italian dining experience. Far too much energy is expended trying to settle the bill. By ‘Italian dining experience’, of course, she is talking about what happens when you go to dinner in Italy itself. Leave Pizza Express to a certain disgraced royal. For the rest of it, a lot of fun is to be had in learning about what it is to be Italian, and indeed in discovering that certain things are widely considered to be Italian but really are not.
In line with previous Fringe offerings, there’s a subplot about female empowerment, though I’m fairly certain Italy isn’t the only place where, traditionally, women were expected to largely confine themselves to the kitchen and home. For those coming to see Licari for the first time, there’s a quick rundown of her notable achievements to date, including previous experience as a doctor in the National Health Service. No other woman in her family has left home to pursue their own passions and ambitions before. But this isn’t an angry rant about smashing the patriarchy – it’s a happy story, far from finished, about forging your own path, and not worrying too much (or, preferably, not at all) about what is considered weird or unconventional by others.
There are the ‘proper’ ways of pronouncing Italian words: personally, I can’t roll my ‘r’s to save my life, but it was reassuring to know even I could, given the right level of passion and exuberance, sound more or less authentically Italian. Resistance to the takeaway message to enjoy life to the full is futile. An engaging, uplifting and enthusiastic comedy hour.
Review by Chris Omaweng
Award-winning Stefania Licari, expat and medic-turned-comic, promises to make the audience a little bit more Italian, 10% sexier and 100% happier in her new show.
After sell-out runs of her previous work at Edinburgh Fringe 2022, 2023 and 2024, Stefania has established herself as a rising star and one of the most exciting international acts in the circuit.
This is your unique chance for comedy, pizza and endless love all rolled into an authentic Italian drama.
STEFANIA LICARI: I CAN MAKE YOU ITALIAN IN 55 MINUTES
Underbelly Bristo Square at the Edinburgh Fringe
30 July to 24 August 2025
