About me: In award-winning actor Jim Brochu's tribute to theatre legend Zero Mostel, a naïve reporter attempts to interview the famously volatile artist, prompting an explosion of memory, humor, outrage and juicy backstage lore. Mostel is remembered for his comedic genius and his definitive roles (Fiddler on the Roof, Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, The Producers), but in the 1950's he was equally known for his place on McCarthy's infamous Hollywood blacklist. Brochu's striking portrayal brings all of Mostel's swagger, ferocity, intelligence and fantastic wit back to the stage in this one-man tour-de-force.
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"Brochu has brought back to us the memory of a volcano
that was thought to be extinct!" --- Theodore Bikel.
By reports, Zero Mostel was a mass of contradictions who vacillated between the explosive and the tender-hearted. Directed by Paul Kreppel, “Zero Hour" captures Mostel's rich contradictions in a loving but unvarnished homage as entertaining as the man himself. Jim Brochu seems almost fatefully destined to play Mostel, not only because he knew Mostel and can bring a deeply personal perspective to his portrayal, but because he is an almost uncanny physical match for his subject. Brochu's fine writing highlights the central events of Mostel's life — including his McCarthy-era blacklisting and his recovery from a devastating bus accident — without ever-belaboring chronology. In a subtly bombastic turn, Brochu reintroduces us to the funny, fantastically contrary Mostel. In all his biting intelligence and imperfection, he has been sorely missed.
Jim Wins Best Play in L.A. for Zero Hour!
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Backstage at Zero Hour: Making Zero Mostel's Combover
When Jim and I were in New York, we went to the FOLLIES concert. As we were in line to go backstage, we found ourselves standing next to Nathan Lane. Jim started talking to him, mentioned Zero Hour, and Nathan said he'd heard of it. Jim said he'd love to Nathan to do the role sometime. When they got to the front of the line, the girl said to Nathan, "And you're name?" Nathan looked at her and said, "Margaret Whiting!"
