ZERO HOUR

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 10:21am

As the lights come up, Jim Brochu has his back to the audience. When he turns around, the audience gasps, then bursts into applause as the Hirschfeld caricature comes to life before their eyes. And for the next 2 hours, Brochu, as Zero Mostel, leads us through an incredibly varied, sometimes heartbreaking, but at all times fascinating life of one of Broadway and Hollywoods most colorful figures. Mostel died in 1977, before many on this board were born, but if you're at all interested in Life Before Rent Came Along, this is a show you should see. Brochu (you may remember him from the autobiographical THE BIG VOICE: GOD OR MERMAN?) doesn't portray the man as much as he transforms himself into Mostel (that he's about the same age as Mostel was in '77 and, that they share the same, ahem, rather rotund physique doesnt hurt the illusion). The show, directed by Piper Laurie, takes us through the dizzingly high, and decidedly low, points of this amazing life, with significant stops along the way covering the Hollywood Blacklist, FORUM, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and his love-hate relationship with Jerome Robbins.

ZERO HOUR is playing at the cozy Theatre at St Clements only through January 31. More than GOD OF CARNAGE (which felt to me like Annoying Rich People Behaving Badly) or CIRCLE, MIRROR, TRANSFORMATION (which I didnt understand at all), to me, this is a show with incredible heart, a great deal of laughs, and, overall, a stupendous performance by a most talented actor. I heartily recommend you see ZERO HOUR.

(BTW: In case some of you may be wondering if I'm shilling, I have absolutely nothing to do with ANY theatrical enterprise, other than to buy a ticket and show up at 8:00. I have a dreadful office job which I despise, but keep only because it affords me enough money to pay the rent and attend the theatre.)

Zero Hour website

[cliffarico]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 12:19pm

Sounds very interesting. I think I will check it out. Thanks.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 4:32pm

Thanks for the report, hushpuppy! Glad you enjoyed it.

But a little Jim Brochu goes a very long way with me. I'll pass.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 11/21/09 at 10:01pm

I saw the show down here in DC. I found it compelling and certainly well-acted, but not the be-all-and-end-all of theatre as some people down here did.