ENNIO MARCHETTO
comedy@list.co.uk
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 20 Nov.
Italy’s papermoulding prodigy
The sight of Kylie Minogue in a slashed-to-the-naval white gown and stilettos probably makes most men go weak at the knees. but not Ennio Marchetto. He simply had to emulate the lady herself. Two pieces of paper later. some masterly artwork and a tweaking around session with a CD mixer. and the Italian mime artist's latest creation was born. And like most men. she's quickly become one of
his favourites.
'lt‘s always the latest creation I like because I can enjoy doing it. and do it better every night,‘ explains Marchetto in his thick Italian accent. 'But there are some characters I‘ve done since the beginning. like the Mona Lisa or like Pavarotti. which I'm a bit bored of doing. but the people wait for them. so l need to have them in the show. So Kylie at this moment is good. But also Bob Marley is one of the latest creations and he was just made one month ago. Marley transforms into Santa Claus: it's very strange.‘
Following the resounding success of Marchetto's unique stage show at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1990. the self-proclaimed 'living cartoon' has taken his back catalogue of over 200 characters around the world to places as diverse as Japan. South Africa and Australia. Each performance features around 50 of his origami characters. and he mimes and moves to a specially mixed backing track
of complementary tunes.
The singular variety of Marchetto's repertoire of characters is amazing — where else could you see Eminem transform into Gloria Gaynor? — but how does he deCide which personalities will make good characters? 'lt's important to find a good idea for the character — if you find a funny idea for the character. you can make all the characters you want. Like for two years I thought about doing Barbara Streisand, and I didn‘t make it. and then one day I decided maybe in profile was the only choice for Barbara. and now I've had Barbara in the show for six or seven years. With a big nose in profile. she becomes Pinocchio at the end of the show. So it's just important to find the idea for the right characters.‘
(Maureen Ellis)
Glasgow
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£3). Resident host Frankie Boyle makes way for Irish japester Patrick McDonnell. (‘olin Ramone and three Velvet Virgins.
Edinburgh
New Material Comedy Night (iildcd Saloon. 233 (‘owgate. 226 6550. 7.30pm. £2. New material hot oil the
68 THE LIST 113-129 Nov 2001
heads ol‘ the hysterically sharp Ricky ('allan and surreally twisted James ('ampbell. Jill Peacock keeps the lads in line.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £5 (£3). Laid-back one— liner specialist l)a\'id Kay. el'l'eryesceut Martin liurby' and the matronly Marjorie
join resident host Joon Broott.
Reg Anderson’s Comedy Cellar 15in Mac(‘ools. I61 l.othian Road. 622 710‘). ()plll. l‘ree. l)a\e Williams attd Sandy Nelson take responsibility lor the laughter quota.
Noble Comedy Noble's Bar. 44a ('onstitution Street. l.eith. 554 2024. 0pm. l‘t‘ee. Music man Sandy .\'elson and patter merchant l)aye Williams are doubly game l‘or a lattgh.
Snatch Club The Liquid Room. 0e Victoria Street. 225 2564. lllpm 3am. £3.50 (£2.50). Resident compere and 1)] Harry Ainsworth hosts this weekly (‘urry‘ ()ii meets [Ii-l)e-lli' debauched cabaret. liach week there will be a selection of guests. and competition host l)aye Strong conducts the participatory ltm and games.
Glasgow
The Stand The Stand. 33.3 Woodlands Road. 08706006055. 9pm. £6 (£5 l. See preyieyy lor the (i/iu/iumr star with the winning smile. ()itiid l)jalili. lreland's Patrick .\lcl)onnell. Scotland's l)a\ id Kay and compere Jane Mackay complete the line-up.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £6 (£5). Downbeat irreyerent yarn-spinner Mark Mater is the main attraction. with backing from rising stars (‘olin Ramone and Ben Darcy. Susan Morrison takes the compering honours.
Largs
Phil Kay Yikingar 'l‘heatre. (ireenock Road. (0475 680777. 8pm. £8.50. Scotland’s lree—lorm comedy maestro takes you on a surreal journey ittto his unpredictable imagination.
Stirling
Gilded Balloon Comedy Night (‘owane 'l‘healre. ('oyyatte Street. 01786 473544. 8pm. £6 (£4). lidinburgh's (iordon Bruiiton headlines with support from (ilasgow 's l)es (‘larke. in an eyening compered by .lill Peacock.
Kirkcaldy
Priorite a Gauche .-\dam Smith 'l‘heatre. Betmochy Road. ()l5‘)2 412029. 8pm. £8.50 ( £6.50). Perrier New comer winning. l'ranglais speaking duo return
w ith their high energy. spool rap artist capers.
Dundee
Dundee Comedy Club The Doghouse. l3 Brown Street. 0l382 227080. t)pm. £5 (£4 ). l)rag queen and sub\ ersiy e \ocalist 'l‘ina (' headlines. w ith comedy backing l'rom Ricky ('allan. the l'kraine‘s second best comedian Bette l.incheslico\ and compere .loon Broott.
Glasgow
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 0pm. £7 (£4 ). See l‘ri 16 only w ith compere Susan Morrison. Madcap Comedy Club the State Bar. I48 llolland Street. 332 2l5‘). 0.30pm. £7 (£6). Scotland's stand-up stalyyart Bruce Morton is this eyening's main attraction.
Edinburgh
After Shock’s Summer lbizan Beach Party The Three Sisters. l5” (‘owgate 622 6800. 7pm laiti. 'lhe (‘ubaii Brothers are the resident party animals as Alter Shock traiisl'orm the Three Sisters into a Mediterranean beach party. 'l'ltink cool (lines. a barbecue. mood \ ideo projections. and a VIP underwater chill otlt /one. but without the prickly heat. mossies and oyer-amorous locals. Or maybe not.
The Stand the Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£4). See l‘t‘i l6 onl.‘
w ith contpere .latie Mackay.
Sunday 18
Glasgow Six On Sunday the Stand. 33. \Ytititlltllltls Road. 0870 (100 6055,
8.30pm. £3 (£2). [find the weekend laughing with some laddish humour courtesy ol‘ (‘olin Ramone. (ieorge .\'e.sbit. compere Ben Darcy and three guests.
Craic @ The Sac (‘iil de Sac Southside/Attic. l 17‘) l’ollok‘shmys Road. 640 l8l‘)/64‘) 47l7. 8.30pm. £4. l)es Macl.ean and l)ayid .\'oir take responsibility l‘or lilling the Southside's laughter gap. with a little help from Alan Anderson.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? the Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lptn. liree with drinks or a meal. l-‘reestyle l‘unniness and hangoyer-banishing antics l‘rom resident duo Paul (iraliam and Stuart Murphy.
Six On Sunday The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). Posh patter merchattt Miles Jupp welcomes to the stage mirth merchant Patrick McDonnell. matronly' figure Marjorie aitd three guests.
Monday 1 9
Edinburgh
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £ 1. (‘ompere Ben Darcy attd headliner John Littlejohn put around eight comedy newcomers through their paces.
Tuesday 20
Glasgow
John’s Journals 'l‘lie .-\rches. 253 Argyle Street. 090| 022 0300. 8pm. £l0 ( £6). Renowned comic poet .lohtt llegley takes you on a whistle stop [our oi his chance encounters from the farthest flung corners of the globe. See preyiew.
Edinburgh
Gala Comedy Benefit For Cancer Research the Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 7.30pm. £6 l £5). The Stand roll otlt the red carpet in aid oi the (‘ancer Research ('ampaign. Ennio Marchetto l-‘estiyal 'l’lieaii-e. l5 2‘) Nicolson Street. 52‘) (7000. 8pm. £11 £ l 5 (£0 £ l 3). Know it for his ama/ing paper creations. Marchetto translorms himsell' into anyone l‘rom the Mona Lisa to Ricky Martin to hilarious ellect. See prey iew
Reg Anderson’s Big Fun Quiz Night Noble’s Bar. 44a (‘onstitution Street. l.eith. 554 2024.9..301ml. U [U play. (io head to head \\ ith Reg ‘know - il-Llll. Anderson for the cltance to \\ in cash and miles in this cult qui/ cabaret.
Wednesday 21
Glasgow
The Goon Show Ramshorn ’l‘heatre. 08 Ingram Street. 552 348‘). lpm. £3 (£1.50). liortniglitly lunchtime light entertainment w ith rehearsed readings ()li Spike \lilligatt‘s contedy classics. Bring along the chow arid let director Michael lluglies supply the laughing matter. This afternoon it's the turn ol' "llie Silent Bugler'.
John’s Journals 'l'lie :\rcltes. 253 .’\rgy le Street. 000] 022 0300. 8pm. £l0 (£0). See prey iew
The Fred MacAulay Show the Stand. 3.3.3 \Yoodlaltds Road. 0370 000 6055. 8.30pm. £7 (£6). The ubiquitous l’red Mac:\u|ay goes back to basics
\\ ith his liye show. attd his guests include ginger nutter .loltn l‘linl. hardman .lames lierguson. Ricky (‘allan and Donna Krachan.
Edinburgh
Crazy Cabaret the Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 0pm. £4 (£3). Reg Anderson. Stey en Dick and .lohn Sinclair return \\ ith their insanely unpredictable cabaret l'eaturiilg a pic ‘n' mis ol' comedy. magic. characters. sketches and llllltlllL'\\.