THE ZZZZzzz TEAM
The Z Team, currently playing at Theatre Row, is a new work by father-and-son team Jeff and Jacob Foy. Directed by Jeff Whiting, it’s advertised to be uproarious: “If The Office and The Bad News Bears had a baby, it would be The Z Team.” Times like this call for lighthearted comedies, so I went and I chuckled but never really laughed — not for the absurdity of the plot, not for the acting, just because most of the jokes are artificial, trite, and fell flat.
Ze'ev Barmor, Allie Trimm, Darby McDonough & Tyler Cruz
Joe Mucciolo, Gabrielle Filloux and Drew Starlin
Allie Trimm & Tyler Cruz
The story: Jerry (Drew Starlin) owns an advertising agency on the verge of closing for lack of clients. While he is preparing for an important presentation, his space cadet young girlfriend (Gabrielle Filloux) forces him to create a commercial for her bizarre new product, The Bend and Blend, a yoga mat with a blender attached to it. Frantic, Jerry puts together a “Z Team” made by the least qualified employees, the ones he wants to fire, so he can keep the best minds for the important presentation.
Ze'ev Barmor & Darby McDonough
Allie Trimm & Ze'ev Barmor
Jakob Martinez-Cooper, Drew Starlin, Darby McDonough, Ze'ev Barmor, Allie Trimm & Tyler Cruz
Enter sexy, introverted, librarian-style Olivia (Allie Trimm, acing the stereotypical role) from accounting, secretly in love with cringey intern David (Ze’ev Barmor) who has the cheesiest jokes; Denise (Darby McDonough), the spiky actress; Rob (Jakob Martinez Cooper), the one-dimensional cameraman; Tyler Cruz the indecisive director, and the gay assistant played by Joe Mucciolo, who stole the show because of his stage presence and better lines. Kaelee Albritton shines in other female roles, Daniel Arana the other male roles.
Allie Trimm, Tyler Cruz, Darby McDonough, Joe Mucciolo & Ze'ev Barmor
Gabrielle Filloux & Allie Trimm
Allie Trimm, Darby McDonough, Joe Mucciolo, Ze'ev Barmor, Gabrielle Filloux, & Tyler Cruz
Unfortunately, while there are comical moments strewn across this comedy, especially with McDonough, Cruz and Filloux, it never swept me up. I felt like I witnessed an assortment of clichés and a style long out of date that is theoretically meant to appeal to younger viewers. I have to admit that some people in the audience laughed often but very few; most of us left with indifferent expressions on our faces.
The Z Team has set design by Scott Aronow, costumes by Matthew Pachtman, lighting by Corey Goulden-Naitove, and sound by Shannon Slaton.
Jakob Martinez Cooper & Tyler Cruz
Ze'ev Barmor, Allie Trimm & Darby McDonough
The Cast
photos by Rebecca J Michelson
The Z Team
Theatre Row, 410 W. 42nd St.
Tues-Thurs at 7; Fri at 8; Sat at 2 & 8; Sun at 3
ends on November 23, 2024
for tickets ($39 and up), visit Theatre Row or Z Team Show
