ZACH BRAFF
State independence OF
As Zach Braff sets off on tour with his self-penned play, Anna Millar fi nds an actor, writer and director who still prefers the road less travelled
‘I ’m still Jenny from the block,’ says Zach Braff after a moment’s refl ection. ‘Even now I feel a bit underground in the acting world.’
For those who enjoyed Braff (and 20 million viewers around the world did) as the lovable JD in US comedy drama Scrubs, or as the star (not to mention writer, director and soundtrack organiser) of 2004’s bittersweet indie hit Garden State, it’s the actor’s self-confessed aversion to the mainstream that is most appealing. While J-Lo dusts off her diamonds, Braff continues to fl y in the face of expectation. He’s unapologetic. ‘When the award seasons happen, you think, “Sure, it’s cool to be in that cool kids’ club.” But, you know, some years you get in, some years you don’t . . .’ Scots audiences can judge Braff’s iconoclastic output for themselves as the New Jersey-born actor makes his UK stage debut, in Glasgow, with self-penned comedy All New People this month. Getting his writing onto the stage was a ‘life dream realised,’ he admits. The play landed off-Broadway faster than he’d anticipated last year and Braff has spent the last six months honing the script, during which time The Hangover’s Justin Bartha has been tackling the lead part of Charlie. For the UK leg
of the tour Braff himself will step into the role, alongside Torchwood actress Eve Myles and RSC stalwart Susannah Fielding. Set in real time, Braff’s play focuses on a 35-year old man who has hit rock bottom and whose life is changed forever following a random meeting with three strangers at a Long Island Beach house. The piece showcases Braff’s deft comedic touch (something of which he’s clearly proud), and while the critical response to the play hasn’t matched the Garden State raves, overall feedback has been positive. ‘It means a lot,’ admits Braff, ‘particularly as writer and star of the show. I love being the conductor of the orchestra, so to speak, and getting actors to give the best of themselves through the words; then as an actor, I just get in there and enjoy it.’
Describing the work as ‘a comedy with a complicated life view’, Braff insists he’s not out to make things easy for his audience. ‘I guess there’s a common theme in my work,’ he laughs. ‘In Scrubs [which was largely set in a hospital] you were laughing at the brilliant slapstick one second, and the next you turned a corner and were dealing with someone dying. In Garden State, there was comedy, sure,
2 Feb–1 Mar 2012 THE LIST 23
'THE WEB IS THE SAME
AS THE WORLD,
THERE ARE ASSHOLES OUT THERE AS WELL
AS MOTHER TERESAS.'