[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of the encore performance of Scot Zeller’s one-man show, H@PPY F@GGOT, directed by Kimleigh Smith at Atwater Village Theatre.
I sadly missed this show last year, during the wonderful Kimleigh Smith’s Solo Festival at the Atwater Village Theatre. Kimleigh promised me it would be back…so I was thrilled to get the call, even though I had to wait almost an entire year!
But, I have to tell you, H@PPY F@GGOT, written and performed by the utterly sublime Scot Zeller, was absolutely, positively worth the wait. It’s one of those magically perfect plays, a precious reward for stressing through the recent terrors of our everyday lives. This perfect play is a deep reflection on a life that frequently wasn’t. The story is Scot’s. His funny, beautiful, sometimes tragic but always hopeful unfolding, from childhood to now. He walks us through the awkward slow realization of his gayness. The bullying, the isolation and the triumphs and the bravery. All written and spoken is such gorgeous lyrical oratory that I literally found myself holding my breath, for fear of breaking the spell.
It’s quite a story…full of vivid description and poetic introspection. This poignant and heartfelt unraveling of his journey is a monologue of hilarious, mystical proportions. Scot Zeller is a brilliant writer. He manages to capture pivotal moments, glimpses of his heart-erupting awakening with a sweet depth, a sincere warmth, and an artist’s wit. How he weaves his story around lust and love, comical and endearing observations, and the 80s life of a gay man in all its revelations and horror is an absolute gift.
I often wonder why solo artists share their stories. Of course, it varies as much as the people who write them. I usually ponder that question in the car on the way home from the theatre. What was it that burned inside them that they needed to share? Ultimately, that is true of all art though, isn’t it? An artist has to burn in order to give us something of themselves. Scot’s play, his own unique story of becoming, left me with so many thoughts and feelings and many questions, but most importantly, it left me with an intensely real feeling of love. Of peace and a shared yearning for understanding, of each other and of ourselves. H@ppy F@ggot stayed with me for days and days in smiles and laughs of remembering and in more sober moments too.
I’m Scot’s generation, and the 80s and 90s were particularly brutal for the gay community. Yet with all the loss, which he spoke of with the gravity of one who was there, he held on to the memories of those he loved and how they stay with him. More beauty, more light.
After finally and thankfully seeing it, I can only wish this phenomenal play into all your lives and hope that Scot has plans for more opportunities for the world to meet him and listen to his joyous, thoughtful and quite brilliant mind. Kim Leigh was right! Scot Zeller is the best!!! Bravo!