Short answer: yes. Go see this show. Fit it into your schedule somehow. If you like to laugh, you will love Zach Zultana.
Jeff Leard uses his considerable skills as a performer to create a world that would otherwise only be possible with a 65 million dollar budget. Ron Fromstein’s script hits all the beats you’d expect in a big budget sci-fi film; the training montages, the love interest, the cheese, the epic landscapes and more. It’s wonderfully visual and compelling, and even manages to work in a bit of a social message. It’s a smart, enthusiastic parody that reminded me of the self-referential nature of The Princess Bride. It looks to me like Leard and Fromstein make a great team!
Zach Zultana: Space Gigolo is an incredibly unique show, and Jeff Leard is an incredibly unique and charismatic performer. Essentially, it’s a man acting out a screenplay on stage, and I’m not sure anyone other than Jeff Leard could accomplish that. He has an infectious energy that pulls you in right from the beginning. Even the moments when he broke character or stumbled over his words were hilariously worked into the show.
Hands down, this is the funniest production I’ve seen at the Ottawa Fringe this year. I don’t think I ever stopped laughing. It was top to bottom hilarity and it filled the Arts Court Library with loud, raucous laughter, time and time again. If you’re looking for comedy at the Fringe this weekend, don’t miss Zach Zultana. This is a show that deserves to be selling out!
For full show times and how to buy tickets, visit ottawafringe.com
But that’s just my opinion and I’d love to know what you think! Did you think Jeff Leard was as hilarious as I did? Join the discussion in the comments below.