By Lee Pfeiffer
Colin Quinn's latest one-man comedy show, "Small Talk" has arrived at the historic Greenwich Theatre in the heart of Greenwich Village. Quinn, a former "Saturday Night Live" cast member, has acquired a loyal following, as evidenced by the fact that this is his seventh such stage production, two of which were directed by Jerry Seinfeld. (This one is directed by James Fauvell). Not having seen any of these previous shows, I accepted the invitation to review this production with an open mind and no particular expectations. Quinn is quite the raconteur, weighing in on many aspects of modern life. In this case, as the show's title indicates, he spends much of his time on the subject of small talk and bemoaning his conclusion that this form of societal intercourse is going the way of the dodo bird and leisure suits. Quinn's thesis is that throughout history, it is the seemingly benign art of making inconsequential conversation that has kept humanity from engaging in complete anarchy because it often forces people with adversarial points of view to engage in at least the basics of civil behavior. Quinn cites the culprits who caused the breakdown of small talk and their names aren't legion, but rather Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Quinn postures that their achievement in making personal computers accessible to the average person has led to diminishing social skills, a dilemma that has only intensified with rapidly expanding technology. It's hard to argue with his logic in an age in which people seem to favor virtual friends over the company of living, breathing human beings. A recent study shows that a shocking percentage of young adult males are losing interest in sex because they prefer on-line relationships to real-life lovers, although considering the cost of going on a date in today's world, maybe they aren't quite as crazy as they appear. Quinn ridicules people who spend too much of their life posting their thoughts on social media and decrees that anyone who posts more than five times a day should seek psychiatric care. He has grappled with his own human weaknesses from the terror of having narrowly survived a heart attack to his successful battle against alcoholism. (In a recent interview, he admits to having been banned from the famed New York watering hole, McSorley's Old Ale House, a seemingly impossible feat if you've frequented the venue.)
Quinn starts off the show with a barrage of comedic observations delivered with the rapidity of a blazing machine gun. There's no warming up in the bullpen because he's got a lot to say and only a self-imposed 70-minute timeline in which to say it. I don't like citing specific jokes when covering comedy acts because it's akin to giving away spoilers in a movie review. Besides, it's possible that many of Quinn's quips might come across as flat as a pancake in print. You have to be in the room with him for the full impact and the Greenwich House Theatre provides an intimate setting that is the perfect venue. Everyone is close enough to the stage to arrive at the belief that Quinn is addressing them personally. It takes only seconds for the laughs to begin, as he weighs in on the most uncomfortable setting in which people have to make small talk: an elevator. He observes that one's choice of words to a total stranger can seem vacuous at best or downright creepy at worst. Like a grumpy but amusing bar patron, Quinn moves beyond small talk through his personal list of people and things that he finds annoying. He vents against the public's embracing of fast food chains, postulating that in the distant future, archaeologists will believe that McDonald's signature "Golden Arches" will indicate places of worship. He says that people's social media profiles indicate who they think they are but their browser histories reveal who they really are, which is an uncomfortable but indisputably true observation.
While Quinn doesn't work "clean", as his colleague Jim Gaffigan does, he doesn't engage in profanity for the sheer sake of shock value, as is the norm with many prominent standup comedians. He has the combined traits of the classic New Yawk comedian, with elements of Lenny Bruce combined with social observations akin to those of Jackie Mason, Woody Allen and Mort Sahl. His political targets are surprisingly few and are balanced. He decries the far left for being politically correct hypocrites who are in a constant state of making cringe-inducing apologies for injustices that they had nothing to do with creating. As for the far right, he dismisses them as being simply stupid. The only positive comments he makes are in tribute to his friend and fellow "SNL" cast member, the late Norm MacDonald, who he clearly misses and admires greatly.
The audience roared with laughter throughout the show. I may have missed Quinn's six previous stage productions but I won't miss the next. This is stand-up comedy at it's best.
"Colin Quinn: Small" talk runs through May 6. Click here for tickets and information.