Illusione…Encore!: The magic lives on

They’ve kept the best and added more!

Starting today, we can enjoy again the magic as Bahaghari Productions proudly brings back a bigger, brighter "illusion" in Illusione... ENCORE! at the Elizalde’s Star Theater at the CCP Complex.

Performing live in this spectacle are only the best in the entertainment scene. They’re all in Illusione...ENCORE!; – Barbra Streisand with her distinctive nose, Diana Ross and her big tantalizing eyes, Liza Minneli with her cropped black hair, and many more will grace the stage and belt out their signature songs in this rare engagement.

James Cooper, one of the most outstanding performers of the initial run is also back. He was lauded for not just looking like Carol Channing and Diana Ross, but also for making these wildly-contrasting stars vividly come alive on stage.

"Actually, I wasn’t supposed to join the group anymore," reveals James, who was also the image consultant of Illusione’s initial run. "Though I enjoyed it immensely, I told myself, tama na. I had fulfilled my need to perform already. But they won’t do it without me raw, so here I am."

Though, from afar, these impersonators may seem to be just having fun, James reveals that it takes a lot of effort, time and creativity in achieving the illusion.

"It takes me two hours to transform into Diana Ross," he shares. "To be an effective impersonator, you have to be the person you’re impersonating. In doing that, you have to watch closely how they perform, how they move their hands, how they open their mouth, everything. The smallest detail about the performer matters." Once, he even watched Diana Ross and sat in front just to watch closely how she performs.

During the initial run of Illusione, James Cooper also had the daunting task of transforming himself from Carol Channing, who is white, to Diana Ross, who is black, in seven minutes. Just imagine how fabulously wacky it was backstage.

"Para akong cartoons. Lahat plak-plak," James recalls. "There were times na tatakbo ka, tapos malalaman ko wala pala akong wig. E si Fritz pa naman pag sinabing at this time nasa place ka na, you really have to be there."

"Kaya lang, maraming nagi-impersonate sa typical na mga bars na exaggerated," he continues. "They don’t give justice to their characters."

Fortunately, according to James, some of those who graduated from Illusione have learned to master the craft and are now earning bigger in Japan and elsewhere.

"It’s really gratifying to see them succeed and be elevated to a higher level of performance," he says enthusiastically.

"You must love the character you’re impersonating," he adds. "Dapat favorite mo siya para may kasamang passion ang portrayal mo. Otherwise, you’ll not be effective. Before we go out, we really psyche ourselves. Like ako, before my number, I don’t talk to anybody. Nakapikit ako, fini-feel ko yung character."

Now sporting a new face, Illusione...ENCORE! is no longer just a musical revue; this time, it has the body of a musical play.

The new divas of Illusione...ENCORE! are Babra Streisand, Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minneli, Celine Dion, Chaka Khan and many more, plus a drop-dead gorgeous Zsa Zsa Padilla with matching Comedy King to boot!

"It will surely be a fun show," shares Niña Romualdez, one of the dynamic triumvirate of Bahaghari Productions, which also includes Carmita Francisco and Margie Moran-Floirendo. "Imagine all these new divas together with Madonna, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Donna Summer and many more, plus our very own Sharon Cuneta? Simply spectacular!" Also part of the case are comedian Arnell Ignacio and stage actor Ogie Juliano.

Illusione...ENCORE! will run at Star Theater CCP Complex starting tonight. Other show dates are on Aug. 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 and Sept. 1. It will also have a two-night performance in Pampanga on Sept. 6 and 7. Tickets to the Manila performances are priced at P1200(Premiere), P800 (Orchestra) and P400 (Balcony), and are available at all Ticketworld outlets (891-5610).

Illusione...ENCORE! is presented by Dove and WG&A, with Air Philippines, Sunday Inquirer Magazine, Waterfront Hotels, PCSO, Sulpicio Lines Inc., Raymund Isaac (Portfolio Studio), NBC and DZRJ as major sponsors.

Minor sponsores are Kinetic Trading, Global Dolls and Porcelain Inc., Schumacher Leathercraft, Batoctoy Prosthetics and Marcella Accessories. Radio partners are Wave 89.1, City Lite 88.3, 89.9 DWTM, 99.5 RT and K-Lite 103.5. Food and Beverage sponsors are Coke Lite, Virgin Café, LJC Group of Restaurants, Quick Stomach, Tequila Joe’s and Red Ribbon.

As an added treat, Illusione...ENCORE! ticket holders can avail of a 10 percent discount at selected LJC Restaurants. Just present your tickets at the following LJC Restaurants: Africana, Bistro Remedios, Café Adriatico, Café Havana, In the Mood and Mil Novecientos and get 10 percent off on your food and beverage bill for cash transactions and five percent off for credit card transactions.