Comedian, writer, producer, and filmmaker Ron Placone is set to premiere his new stand-up show, Anti-Fascist Pasta Night, at this summer’s Edinburgh Fringe, as part of the Free Fringe.
“Learn to love cats and hate capitalism (if you don’t already)! Curious about the fascist coup going on in the United States? Want to get the low down with punchlines because this world needs a spoonful of sugar to go down? Ron Placone has been a political comic (their designation, not his) since 2007, and he’s been witnessing the decline pretty much ever since the Iraq War jolted him awake. Ron will take you on a journey through politics, culture, travel, relationships, and just to give a bit of relief, how he copes with it all.”
Where: Flight Club at Laughing Horse @ West Port Oracle
When: 6-30 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/anti-fascist-pasta-night
What is the show about, and where did the idea come from?
The show is about the rise of fascism in the United States right now and around the world. Anti-Fascist Pasta Nights are actually a thing in Italy that began around the time Mussolini got out of power. When the Trump Administration decided that being Anti-Fascist was a terrorist ideology, I decided that’s what I needed to call the show.
There’s also a personal component to this…I’m an Italian-American, a group whose radical history is often neglected in the United States, and some of us are trying to change that. It’s a political show, but there are definitely some other themes in there too: how food brings us together, fun with language, why cats are anti-fascist, and of course, why pasta is anti-fascist.
Sell the show to a potential audience in one sentence!
If you love cats and hate capitalism, love pasta and hate fascism, or think that maybe you should or could, this show’s for you!
What does the Fringe mean to you, and do you have any particular memories?
I’ve always loved every Fringe I’ve ever done, Edinburgh and elsewhere. This is my second time coming to Edinburgh. The first time was seriously some of the most fun I’ve ever had in comedy. The passion, the energy, being around so many creative people from all over the world and meeting people doing amazing things literally everywhere. It’s just a big, blurry, creative summer camp complete with some killer street food.
Is it all roses? Of course not. There are days where you feel like you’re on top of the world and other days where you feel like a fraud who should just quit forever and go live in a hut somewhere. But, the good outweighs the bad by a ton. One of my favorite memories: I got to see one of my favorite punk-poets, Attila the Stockbroker, do his show, he gave me a plug from stage which was unexpected and awesome, then I got to go see a panel from the folks who made the Inbetweeners, then I got to do my hour, and then I realized it wasn’t even 5pm.
What are you looking forward to in Edinburgh?
Seeing some old friends, meeting some new ones, giving it my all each and every show, gathering around the cause of peace and solidarity, and a post-show Aperol Spritz (or two) on the Pear Tree patio as the sun sets.
What’s next for the show?
The preview run has been an absolutely wonderful experience, and to be honest, it’s exceeded my expectations. Anti-Fascist Pasta Night won a Social Justice Award from Inspire Arts, and the New York preview sold out. I’ve been connecting with some amazing people solely as a result of deciding to create this show.
So, I think Anti-Fascist Pasta Night will definitely run for at least another year post-Edinburgh, both in North America and in Europe. I’m looking into making a television show version of it. Stand-up-wise, given the topical element, the jokes will be changing, so I suppose a “part 2” isn’t out of the picture either. Right now, I’m just more excited than anything for this show to premiere, and it’s the most proud I’ve ever been of any stand-up hour I’ve done. Hope to see ya there! Bella Ciao!