CityLife

Ennio's paper-thin humour is a real treat

Ennio Marchetto as Lady Gaga

THERE are some pretty unique sights to be seen on the comedy circuit but one of the most memorable has to be the Italian comedian Ennio Marchetto.

Using pieces of paper, like a human flicker book, Marchetto transforms before your eyes into a range of cartoon celebrities from Freddie Mercury to The Queen all with the flick of a sheet of A1.

He has been performing his characters for years around the world but the inspiration for his show came while working in his father’s coffee machine repair shop more than 20 years ago.

“I hated that job…I was daydreaming while working and in one of those dreams, Marilyn Monroe appeared all dressed in paper.

"I immediately tried to recreate what I had seen and that’s how I started to use paper.

"The character was liked by my friends, so I decided to make more paper characters. In a few weeks I had three and then the ball started to roll...”

But Marchetto was already making masks and costumes by the time Munroe made her celestial visit.

His creativity had been inspired in part by the world famous Carnival in his hometown of Venice, the annual event has existed for centuries and involves much dressing up and mask wearing.

The spectacular has made various transitions from its first recorded origins in the 13th century, being banned during the fascist period for much of the 20th century to the commercial venture it is today.

The early ‘80s, however, were a heyday and Marchetto was there at the grass roots.

“It all started with a few people who re-discovered the tradition of mask making and dressing up for the carnival. I was in this group and started to perform on the streets and for my friends.

"We all had little money and wanted to do extravagant things... in a way you could say that the punk and glam period were transformed into carnival.”

Taking all his inspirations and his paper revelation, Marchetto teamed up with Dutch designer Sosthen Hennekam who helps makes the costumes. The comedic element to the show was  “only natural,” to Marchetto but Hennekam adds to it too.

“He and I have completely different taste in humour... we mix them in the show, we try to make the show funny on many different levels. The cartoon costumes obviously help (the humour) a lot.”

Transcends

With the mix of humour, visuals and music, the show transcends both language and cultural barriers making it a hit around the globe.

“The audience reaction is always strong. In some countries the audience are more lively, they let themselves go more easily... like in Scotland. The festivals there have been very important for me.”

In fact the only ‘difficult’ crowds aren’t because of a lack of appreciation just a bit quiet.

“Maybe the most difficult crowds are in Japan, they love the show, but are very reserved.”

One of the most mesmerising elements of the show is how Marchetto executes many of these quick changes on stage, one paper creation transforming into another.

“I do all the changes on my own, nobody helps me. Of course there have been moments that things go wrong, but I'm very good at resolving these immediately.

"After all the fragility of it all is part of the show, part of the tension.”

Though there must have been some hairy moments over the years?

“The worst thing that happened, was many years ago in Milton Keynes... because of the strong sub base that was placed under the stage, the table with costumes ‘vibrated’ and little by little they fell off the table while I was performing. We had to stop the show.”

For his latest tour he has some new creations some of which CityLife are really looking forward to seeing, “to name a few, Susan Boyle, Lady Gaga, a very special Michael Jackson, Vera Lynn...”

But surely not all celebs lend themselves to the format of the show?

“Some male characters are difficult because many look alike or are not as recognisable as the more extravagant women.

"Some famous singers have songs that don’t fit in the show because they’re too slow, some show no character and so many now only last for one or maybe two songs, and so their expiration date is not compatible with my show.”

And beyond the tour it seems that Marchetto’s ambitions are quite modest.

“More new characters and more time in my garden!”

And who knows what he will dream up while lying back and snoozing in his deckchair.

Ennio Marchetto is at The Lowry on Sunday, October 4. Call 0870 787 5780.