Jackie Hoffman (Hairspray, The Kvetching Continues, Garden State, Kissing Jessica Stein Obie Winner, Book of Liz) Extended at The Culture Project at 45 Bleecker for 4 special performances only: Sunday, July 10th, Monday, July 11th, Sunday, July 24th, and Monday, July 25th. All shows are at 8PM.
Corine Cohen: In "Pride and Joy", part of the Downtown Plays
at the Tribeca Theater festival you played a Mother that steals
the show. It was the funniest part of the show, and I thought I
would choke from laughing so hard. Tell me, how you got involved
in the Downtown Plays.The Drama Dept. the theatre company that co-produced the festival, have done a lot of stuff with me in the past. They asked me to do it. I had just given my notice at hairspray, so I said yes.
No matter what part you have, you manage to steal the show with your facial expressions. In your three minutes of Hairspray as the gym coach and Prudy, you stole the show. Why did you leave Hairspray? And was it to spite your Mother?
Nothing I do is to spite my mother. I'm too afraid of her. I was ready to leave, and all these things came up. The downtown plays, then a holiday show at Joe’s pub, then I took "The Kvetching Continues" to LA, I did the Aspen Comedy Festival in February, and "The Kvetching Continues was so successful in LA that I brought it back in April.
In "Kvetching", your show at Joe's Pub, you talk about your Mother. Tell me about your relationship with your Mother, and how it provides you with some of your best work. I read that you were very close with your Father and Aunt and your Father inspired you. Your Mother provides you with all of your funny material.
A lot of comics talk about their mothers, particularly Jewish women comics. I think Jewish mothers go to places where no other mothers would go, in terms of their intervention and overprotection. I will always be her child, and the older one gets the more frustrating and ridiculous it is. Male comics don't see the humor in it usually; they are too threatened and emasculated, and just seek gentile women for revenge. The stuff my mother says is classic, and I couldn't pass it up.
I totally agree about Jewish Mothers! Jackie, what are 10 things people don't know about you?
10? If you've seen one of my shows, there is no way you wouldn't know 10 things about me. I don't even know 10 things I don't know about me. I cry at least once a day, I eat a lot, I tape "all my children" everyday, I have a sister, I have an extra wide foot, is that ten?
You crack me up! That is close enough! Let's talk about your newest show "David & Jodi & David & Jackie? Again you stole the show with your facial expressions. What is your favorite thing about the show?
This probably isn't the right answer, but my favorite part of that show is my wig. I mean, that thing is a work of genius. It was made for me by my friend, Jeremy Tjhung. It’s also a vehicle that gives me a chance to do the type of acting I would never get to do; I have some juicy great scenes. And of course, my surprise display at the end.
Do you really hate kids or is it just part of your schtick?
I really hate kids.
I know you have been in "Kissing Jessica Stein" and other films. What do you want to do next?
A TV show would be fun. I have a recurring role on a new sitcom coming out in August called "starved" and my part is a hoot. I get to be really mean, and we know how much I love that.
I can’t wait to see you in Starved. I would love to see you in the Hairspray film, any news on that project?
Only gossip that changes every day. I have about as much chance of being in that film as I do of being in a remake of "White Heat."
Well, I think it is a shame. You were wonderful in Hairspray and I hope they cast you in the film. Then again, I want Harvey as Edna and they are in talks about John Travolta. If you could change one thing in the World, what would it be?
Make Jewish women over 40 the hottest thing in show business.
Photo: David Ilku, Jodi Lennon, David Rakoff, and Jackie Hoffman (by M. Schiralli)
Interview conducted by Corine Cohen
