If actors did prison time for scene stealing, Jackie Hoffman would be serving a life sentence.
The comedian/chanteuse will be bringing her act, “A Miserable Evening with Jackie Hoffman,” to Bay Street Theater on August 25 to close out this season’s Music Mondays, and it is “not recommended for happy people,” according to the press release.
You know Jackie Hoffman, even if you don’t know Jackie Hoffman. She got an Emmy nod for her role as the long-suffering maid Mamacita on “Feud: Bette and Joan,” she portrayed Gitta the matchmaker in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and is still slaying as the amusingly caustic neighbor Uma Heller on “Only Murders in the Building.” She has been both on and off-Broadway, has appeared in many films and other TV shows, and is also known for her raunchy, hilarious solo shows — like the one coming to Bay Street.
In 2009, Hoffman received the Mac Award for Best Female Stand Up. Her solo shows at Joe’s Pub have received critical acclaim. They include “It’s Over. Who Has Weed?,” “Themeless,” “The Kvetching Continues,” “Jackie Five-Oh!,” “Chanukah at Joe’s Pub” (Bistro Award), “Scraping the Bottom,” and “Jackie with a Z.”
“This is an entirely new show,” said Hoffman. “The material is untested, which is very exciting and also terrifying.”
When she’s on screen, it’s hard to watch anyone else. In the grand tradition of character actors like Selma Diamond and Florence Halop, her po-faced grumpitude shoplifts every scene she’s in. And when she smiles and sings and dances, like she did as assistant principal McGee in “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies,” it’s even more fascinating.
It seems like she exploded fully formed onto the stage, like Athena emerging from Zeus’s forehead. What was she like as a little girl? “Self-loathing, which is unusual for a child,” she responded. “Loud, attention-seeking. So not much has changed.” Hoffman acknowledged that performing has always been on her radar.
Any words of wisdom for younger actresses, pounding the pavement but not getting the parts? “I hate when people ask me that,” she said. “I’m not an advice kind of gal. I wouldn’t wish this profession on anyone, but I don’t want to discourage. I didn’t listen to those who wanted to discourage me. Just keep at it and network with other people and put together anything, even if it’s a play reading group.”
Is “Only Murders” as much fun as it looks to film? “Yes, it is,” said Hoffman. “Steve and Marty are very Steve and Marty.”
Best advice she ever got? “Be the kind of person they want on the set.” Worst? “Crash an audition you weren’t invited on.”
And what would she tell her 16-year-old self? The answer: pure Jackie Hoffman. “It gets worse.”
Tickets for “A Miserable Evening with Jackie Hoffman” are available at baystreet.org.
