Master mimic mario set for athlone

Comic legend and impersonator Mario Rosenstock returns to Athlone for one night later this month.

He kicks off his Autumn Tour of Gift Grub 3, livein October, and will visit the Radisson Blu Hotel next Saturday, October 17.

The show features all of the famous celebrities which Rosenstock is famous for portraying. Miriam O’ Callaghan opens the show, with Bono, Roy Keane and Daniel O’Donnell all featuring prominently in the first part. In the second half, Marty Morrissey and Davey Fitzgerald pay a visit, before Louis Walsh concludes the show.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, Mario didn’t have to think twice about his favourite character to impersonate, declaring Roy Keane as the man above the rest.

“He just keeps giving material. Brian Cowan and Bertie are hilarious, but they disappear. Roy just keeps on giving. You think he’s gone, and then all of a sudden he’s back as Ireland Assistant Manager and working at Aston Villa,” said Rosenstock excitingly.

“He is an intimidating presence. I interviewed him for a sketch, 'Roy on Roy,’ where I played Roy Keane, interviewing Roy. You just know he won’t take any bull. He has a big, powerful handshake, lets you know he won’t tolerate any lying or bull,” added Rosenstock.

His favourite character to impersonate coincides with his favourite ever sketch. The 'Dry Your Eyes Becks’ song features Roy Keane and David Beckham, in the immediate aftermath of Beckham missing a penalty and England losing the subsequent game to France.

“That sketch, from 2004 is my favourite. I did that at night, straight after the game. It was the age of the early internet, and there was a great reaction. It was the start of the viral and sharing, so there was a great buzz off that.”
A widely known figure, and one of the most recognisable faces in Ireland, Rosenstock constantly receives requests from people in the streets, with one special service often sought after by the people of Ireland.

“I’m fairly up for the laugh, and any request really. The most common one and best one I get asked; is people asking me to put their voicemail as Roy Keane, so I’ll say (in the Roy Keane voice) 'Hi this is Roy, your mate can’t come to the phone right now, obviously as I said before, we’re having a training session, and he’ll call you back.’”

Mario spends much of his time in the public eye, however he does manage to find time to enjoy his main hobby, playing tennis.

“I love tennis, I play up to three times a week, leagues, everything. I hope to play into my 70’s and 80’s. It’s a bit theatrical really, like a stage. The court is more a performance area than a pitch. Wimbledon is very theatrical, more so than a sporting event,” he said.

Tickets for the show can be bought online, at www.mariorosenstock.ie on www.ticketmaster.ie or call Ticketmaster on 0818 719 300.