I first encountered comic Mina Liccione when I reviewed her previous show, Growing Up Ringside, in 2022. Now, she has a show at Edinburgh Fringe called Arabized, touching on her time living in the Middle East.
As an American in the Arab states, Liccione obviously has opinions on the current President and the Israel/Palestine situation. She’s an observational comic, occasionally spicy, and often on the nose.
Making the most of her time in Dubai, Liccione has founded a school for comedy, Dubomedy, and made significant contributions to the comedy scene there with her husband Ali Al Sayed.
It’s a set that romps through all the obvious points about cultural difference, gendered loos, and the vaguaries of fame. It’s extremely polished and well-received by this particular audience.
It’s not as emotionally invested as the previous show, instead casting the net a bit wider. As an Italian-American married to an Arab, she finds synergy in their cultures and ideals.
Physical comedy remains part of Liccione’s act, reflecting her background with STOMP and Cirque de Soleil. Her body is its own character, her hair is piled up in Princess Leia style.
Her show moves from her useful whiteness at airports, the mechanics of Arab toilets, and Taylor Swift. She clearly relishes the use of language, scattering Arab words throughout the set.
She is pragmatic about women in this new culture, and fears for the safety of the two young Muslim men who are her sons. She was brought up to fear men like this: how many Americans feel the same?
Although this material sometimes feel a little safe, this is a perfectly entertaining show from a performer who knows what to deliver and how to do it.
It’s a very high quality recording, too, but relies much more on Mina alone than her previous multimedia piece.
4 stars.
Mina Liccione: Arabized is part of the Edinburgh Fringe through C Arts Digital.