CHENNAI: Impersonation is a tough art, they say. But, here’s someone who does a perfect impression of the slapstick comedy and silent film superstar Charlie Chaplin with ease. Meet Yari Croce (Viaggiattore Magico), an acclaimed impersonator, who is in the city for a performance hosted by Phoenix MarketCity. “I started practicing the art when I was 11 and my first professional performance was six years later. I was exposed to art and theatre from a very young age,” recalls the impersonator-cum-theatre artist.
Being a theatre artist, Yari went on to do several roles, of which his first was Charlie Chaplin! Bobbing and jumping like the man himself, he has been impersonating and performing like Chaplin for over 12 years. “Nobody else can ever make an individual laugh like the way Charlie Chaplin did. He is the legend of comedy. He was the king of entertainment in the era of silent films. When I decided to impersonate, he was my first choice,” he says, gushing about the English comic.
The artiste focuses on entertaining children because they are the ‘joy of life’. “There is nothing more satisfying than making little kids happy,” says Yari, who also impersonates the Pirates of the Caribbean character - Jack Sparrow (played by actor Johnny Depp). Ask him about the challenges of imitating two characters that are known for their body language and humour, he says that every character has its own challenges and the key lies in adapting to it. “At times, you tend to forget what role you play at the moment because of continuous day and night performances. Mixing up characters on stage is a huge blunder that an artist can never make, ” he opines.
It takes Yari anything from 30 minutes to an hour to get into the shoes of Chaplin and Jack Sparrow. “It’s important to give the perfect look. So, I make sure everything from costumes, makeup to the art are perfect,” he shares.
So, who is he when he’s off the shoes of the characters he impersonates? “Just Yari. I strive to be myself when I am not on stage. I also indulge in some billiards, juggling and movies in my free time,” he adds.
Yari Croce will be performing at Phoenix MarketCity until November 12 from 5 pm onwards. For details, call: 66513007