Italian-American Marsha de Salvatore, born and bred in Ohio, decided you need all your sense of humor to cope with life in Rome as soon as she moved there. So living in Rome turned her into a talented comedienne at ‘Rome’s Comedy Club’, loved by expats and Italians alike, with events taking place every last Friday of the month.
Born to an Italian mamma and papà, who are originally from Calabria, means she tans well, but also understands the American mentality that so many expats in Rome share with her, and this makes her comedy nights so successful.
Crowds howl as Marsha relays her many stories of daily life in Rome. The trials and tribulations cover everything from ‘Termini station’ to ‘dating’. After all, her motto is “Eternal Laughs in The Eternal City!”
Marsha was fed up and uninspired by the lack of stand up comedy in English in Rome, so she decided to do something about it.
What would you say to anyone who has not done stand up comedy before but wants to give it a go?
Give it a try, but don’t be afraid and have fun . The audience is a very open and appreciative one, this helps putting performers at ease. It is the most frightening thing you will ever do but the most rewarding afterwards. Hilary Bockman, a British tour guide thanks me all the time for pushing her to get on that stage now she is becoming a regular to Rome’s Comedy Club’s show.
What do you think are the three things one needs to become a stand up comic?
Material,
confidence,
timing.
What was the last thing that made you laugh?
My family!
Who is your favorite stand up comedian?
Three names come to mind: Robin Williams, Eddie Izzard & Jennifer Saunders .
I simply love them!
Do you think there is a cultural boundary between Italian/American humour, and has that affected your material?
Yes, there is, but in positive ways.
The “culture clash” gives an endless pool of material which Italian and American/British can use to entertain the audience.
The audience we get at the club appreciates both sides because it is an equally mixed crowd.
We started a year ago with only the expat community (performers and audience) but now we work with Italians as well.
We routinely have Italian comics in our monthly show, Francesco De Carlo, Edoardo Ferrari and I Bugiardini that perform in English, and this has brought in more Italians to the show.
The bringing in of Italians and expats to one event is exciting and does not limit any culture.
When are auditions held?
Anyone interested in preforming must contact us via email: romescomedyclub@gmail.com.
New performers are given 3-5 minutes. Their pieces can range from music, stand up, sketch, story telling, joke telling or anything else related to comedy.
We also have an open mic, therefore, there is no audition or rehearsal. But a run through or critique of a piece can be offered upon request.
The piece must be memorised and performers can just show up one hour before the show for sound check. It is an amateur show. We generally have a show which is a mix of half professional and half new people. Because the show is an open mic, it means the pieces performed are a surprise to all. We are always on the lookout for new performers.
What can you expect on a typical night?
6-8 performers do a stand up routine during a two hour show. Special guests will often include The Bugiardini, an improvisational theatre group, whose crowd interaction sets the pace for the second half of the show. After this, there is live music performed by Eddie & The Hot Rocks.
So if you are in need of a dose of comedy, come and see for yourself!
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Rome Comedy Club
The last Friday of the month @
Grotta Pinta Lounge Rome.
Via di Grotta Pinta, 12
00186 Roma
338 823 0154
www.romescomedyclub.tumblr.com
https://www.facebook.com/RomesComedyClub
youtube:romecomedynight
Doors open at 8. Entrance 5 euro.
First drink includes an aperitivo buffet.
See you there!
