The clip I posted earlier reminded me: You can't go see Zero Mostel perform live anywhere. He kind of ended that possibility when he died in 1977. But a more-than-reasonable facsimile is around, currently playing in Toronto through April 16. It's my buddy Jim Brochu in his one-man show, Zero Hour.
In it, Jim somehow (don't ask me how) turns himself into the Conquering Zero for 90-or-so minutes of discussing his life, his career, art, the curious institution we call Show Business, the world…all sorts of fascinating topics as viewed by a fascinating man. If you do a bit of Googling, you'll see that I'm hardly the only one to dispense raves for this play…and I wish he'd do it closer to me so I could see it again and again. If you're anywhere near Toronto this week, it's playing at the Harold Green Theatre and you can find out more and order tickets here. In May, he's doing it in Pittsfield, MA, which is also not close enough for me to attend. But if it's convenient to you, go. It's one of those evenings you won't soon forget…and in a good way.