While Marchetto's spot-on gestures, mannerisms, body postures, and exaggerated facial expressions contribute significantly to the persuasiveness of his impressions, the overall show is driven by the costumes, designed by Marchetto and Sosthen Hennekam (who also directed with Marchetto). They look like those two-dimensional cardboard figures painted to look like celebrities, with the faces cut out so you can pose behind them and have your picture taken. But Marchetto's costumes are made of paper and engineered so craftily that simply by unfolding, flipping, re-flipping, turning, twisting, and detaching pieces of them, Marchetto changes from one outfit—and character—into another. In one scene he emerges as Gene Kelly, dancing and lip-synching gracefully, umbrella in hand and fully attired in a suit, but by the time the song shifts from "Singin' in the Rain" to "Isn't She Lovely," Marchetto has transformed into Stevie Wonder, complete with harmonica, keyboard, and dreadlocks. Equally remarkable are his transformations from Jesus to Mary Poppins and from Judy Garland longing to go "Over the Rainbow" to E.T. trying to "phone home." His portrayals of the Mona Lisa, the queen of England, the Three Tenors (yes, he depicts the whole trio), and Diana Ross and the Supremes (with six arms executing Motown-style precision choreography) are all superbly imaginative.
Though Marchetto supplies more fun than I've had at the theater in ages, his show is not just clever for the sake of being so. Contained within his song choices and his selections of who transforms into whom and how and which of the famous personas' traits he parodies are satiric commentaries on the individuals as well as Marchetto's critical opinions of them and their work. And like any thorough critic, he even offers context for his assessments, as when he references the African-American roots of rock 'n' roll through an awe-inspiring transmutation of a gospel choir into Elvis Presley. Give yourself a treat: See this show!
Presented by Jonathan Reinis and Glynis Henderson as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at the 47th Street Theatre, 304 W. 47th St., NYC. Sept. 28–Oct. 12. Remaining performances: Sat. Oct. 1, 1 and 4:30 p.m.; Sun. Oct. 2, 9 p.m.; Mon., Oct. 3, 8 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 9, 1 and 4:30 p.m.; Wed., Oct. 12, 8 p.m. (212) 352-3101, (866) 811-4111, www.theatermania.com, or www.nymf.org.
