Jack Tucker: Comedy Stand Up Hour

July 20, 2024

15th – 27th July 2024

Zach Zucker, known as the ‘bad boy of clown’, returns to Soho with his award-winning alter-ego: Jack Tucker. His publicity boasts ‘Standing ovations, sold out performances, walk-outs and one-star reviews.’ Zucker has carved out a successful career with his high-octane brand of comedy, doing whatever it takes to make you laugh. He has no boundaries! If the joke doesn’t land, it’s because you didn’t get it. The worse it gets, the funnier it is.

Zucker comes to Soho Theatre after sell out runs in New York, London, Los Angeles, Edinburgh, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Mumbai, collecting a bevy of nominations and awards including Critic’s Pick (New York Times) Comedians’ Comedian Award (Chortle) and Top Comics You Should Know (Vulture Mag).

“Zucker is unarguably one of the most naturally talented comedians playing on the international circuit”

Famed for his razor-sharp wit as host of Stamptown, the raunchy, chaotic variety show, we have a measure of Zuckers potential and his one-hour solo show only serves to enhance and cement his reputation.

The show is a fully loaded feast of slapstick, music, technical genius and fast-paced Z Gen culture blended with a sprinkling of political satire. The recent attempted assignation of Donald Trump is given the special Tucker treatment. We are subjected to a cacophony of loud and random sound effects which assault our senses from start to finish.

Dishevelled and unkempt in appearance, and visibly sweating from his endeavours, Tucker flirts dangerously with his audience, baiting them with provocative taunts. He takes great pleasure in mocking us, regularly referencing the failure of the “United Kinglish’ to achieve success at the recent Euros in Germany. Our inept inability to laugh at every joke is scolded with further jibes of “And the crowd go mild’ and “you’re laughtose intolerant”. But his put downs are not just reserved for us. We receiveconstant reminders that his many visual gags would be even better if he’d had a projector, something he regularly contests with his put upon technician, who’s responses demonstrate excellent comic timing and never fail to get a laugh.

Zucker interacts with us throughout, engaging in conversation with a number of individuals, then weaving them seamlessly into his gags. He brings the lights up to see us more clearly only to quickly take them down upon realising the very sight of us is making him feel sick.

There is a fine supporting cast who bring a good mix of musical comedy, physical theatre and improvised technical effects which all greatly enhance the show and Zucker brings them all, including his immensely talented technician onto the stage for a curtain call, which is a lovely touch.

The crowd revels in the hilarious fast paced chaos of this show but the constant repetition of certain audio and visual gags saw stretches of the act become mundane and far less entertaining.

Zucker is unarguably one of the most naturally talented comedians playing on the international circuit. His Tik Tok-style comedy won’t appeal to everyone but there are many who will love it and his growing popularity will surely only increase.