The world is not a pretty place in UK Underdog, Steve Spiro’s one-man show, now in a world premiere at the Zephyr Theater, admirably directed by Ann Bronston. Spiro grew up in a tough, working-class section of London, a sickly Jewish kid who was bullied in school not only by the students but the teachers. It didn’t get much better as he got older and had to deal with anti-Semitism and thuggery practically wherever he went. It wasn’t until he took up kung fu and learned how to defend himself that his enemies left off. But even then, an unfortunate road-rage encounter turned bloody and brutal—and resulted in him having to flee Britain to avoid a possible jail sentence. Spiro, a charismatic actor who switches from drama to comedy in a twinkling—and is an excellent mime to boot—delivers his autobiographical spiel in a dynamic, hard-driving way, catching the audience up in his spell in tour de force fashion. Family and friendship counted for a lot in Spiro’s life. His pun-loving, self-deprecating father was a cab-driver, his mother a balabosteh, his grand-mother a hard-boiled cynic who adored American TV shows like “Chips” and “Baywatch.” His best friend, a neighborhood kid named Erch, remained loyal to him through all the ups and downs—and eventually helped get his police record expunged. (Erch turned up in the opening-night audience as well.) Spiro’s lethal fists helped him get through the first part of his life, but what ultimately saved him was his creative side. One of his few kindly teachers was an acting coach who spotted his raw talent and nurtured it, giving Spiro the confidence and courage to attempt a career in showbiz (despite having been rudely turned down at RADA). Spiro arrived in California in 1993 with a few hundred dollars to his name but managed to survive as an actor, thanks at first to gigs in non-union commercials (cash under the table), then to his work in both film and stage. Spiro is also a member of Pacific Resident Theater, where Underdog was work-shopped and developed. He has also written several screenplays, including one about the early 20th-century British boxer, Sam Langford. Spiro is one of the original founders of START, an animal-rescue group (which will share in the profits from this show, along with various anti-bullying groups). UK Underdog is a solo show with a lot of heart. It is not only entertaining but deeply moving, poignant and, above all, life-affirming.
