Ennio Marchetto at the Lowry Theatre
by Wayne Pretl
Marchetto - Living Cartoon
If you’re an avid watcher of the Royal Variety Performance Show, circa 1998, here’s a face you might recognise, if not the name – Ennio Marchetto. Described by some as a living cartoon, and by others as human origami… on a cold and wet October Sunday I went to see if he could brighten up the dark evening (and cheer up my hangover from the night before) with his colourful performance.
For one night only, Marchetto was performing at the Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays. The show opened as the low murmur from the audience settled in, curtains already open and a bright light lit stage that looked like the cleaner had forgotten to sweep. From around the corner, a sleepy paper caricature (paper pyjamas, paper wig, paper candle) yawned and stretched its way to the front of the stage. The audience had silenced themselves for the evening’s performance and as Marchetto blew his paper candle out, the lights in the auditorium switched off. The show had begun.
Ennio - Piaf
For one hour, the original quick-change artist made 50 paper costume changes, ranging from celebrity to cultural icons and works of art. As a physical comedian, he was completely bang-on with pop culture. It’s common knowledge across the internet that people question Lady GaGa’s gender – Ennio brought him/her to life in paper, folded origami style into a ‘blow-up’ doll, complete with male appendage. There were some old classics in there, such as Edith Piaf and Louis Armstrong, alongside current artists like Eminem (huge hands), Kanye West (huge glasses) and Beyonce (huge everything else). Half way through, there was a small tribute to Michael Jackson, and finally an ending which summed up all the characteristics of the UK’s very own Susan Boyle.
Ennio - Madonna & Child
The high-energy show was set to an entertaining soundtrack, but if you’re not the kind of person to be impressed by the wit of mime performance, you’d probably be kept mesmerised by the costumes alone. The larger than life costumes are designed for Marchetto in collaboration with the talented Dutch designer Sosthen Hennekam. Inspired by cartoons, they start as one thing and fold and change into something completely different, often taking the performance in an unexpected direction.
Born in Italy (Venice) in 1960, Marchetto’s career began at the Venice Carnival in the 1980s. Since then Marchetto has gone on to win various awards, and following his first international engagement at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1989, his show has travelled the world.
In summary, a very entertaining hour of my life well spent, and on reflection, he’s not only a living cartoon… he’s living proof that you can take your inspirations from anywhere, from childhood or current culture and transform them into new art forms, blending them into the things you’re most passionate about.
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