THE HANGOVER REPORT – Colin Quinn’s one-note New York City history lesson loses steam

IMG_5087You know something’s wrong when a 75 minute show feels 45 minutes too long. Well, that’s what I felt about Colin Quinn: New York Story, Mr. Quinn’s latest theater/stand-up comedy hybrid. New York Story, now playing at the Cherry Lane Theatre, strives to chronicle New York City’s history through the lens of its various waves of immigrant groups. This sounds like a decent idea on paper, especially in concert with Mr. Quinn’s gruff but likable everyman persona. However, in execution, Mr. Quinn (whose previous Long Story Short on Broadway a few seasons back I enjoyed much, much more) hits us over the head with a barrage of obvious, frankly unfunny, racial stereotypes. I found the first few send-ups (particularly his views on what the Germans and the Jews brought to the table) to be admittedly amusing, but by the time he got to the Blacks and the Chinese, I was more than ready for another angle.

Ironically, one of Mr. Quinn’s rants is that New York in its current state has lost much of its iconic edge and character. Unfortunately, his latest show, which by the way is directed by Jerry Seinfeld, is missing those very ingredients.

NOT RECOMMENDED

 

COLIN QUINN: THE NEW YORK STORY
Off-Broadway, Play
Cherry Lane Theatre
1 hour, 15 minutes (with no intermission)
Through January 31

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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