Italian comedian and London Olivier Award nominee Ennio Marchetto has been winning raves (the New York Times) and audiences with his "human origami," enough so that his New York debut at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre (above the Promenade) has been extended a week, to April 11. Ennio: Starring Ennio Marchetto began previews March 16 and opened March 21.

Using paper costumes designed by Sosthen Hennekam, Marchetto [pronounced mar-ket'-oh] folds and unfolds himself from one character into the next. With a repertoire of 150+ characters, he introduces 40 per 70 minute show, morphing such celebs as Fidel Castro into the Pope, Lou Reed into Marge Simpson, Miriam Makeba into a giraffe, and Celine Dion into the RMS Titanic.

Marchetto studied at two classical Italian training schools, Scuola dell'Arte and Teatro dell'Arte. After premiering his show at the Edinburgh Festival, he has traveled with it to Tokyo, Hong Kong, Paris, Berlin and Barcelona. Co-director Hennekam studied at Studio Bercot in Paris and still designs collections for Thierry Mugler and others.

Tickets for Ennio Marchetto are $35 and available by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200. The McGinn/Cazale Theatre above the Promenade is located at 2163 Broadway at 76th Street.

-- By Christine Ehren