Colin Quinn Tells It Like It Is At Guild Hall

For the most part, Colin Quinn’s bark is worse than his bite.

Despite his tough-guy persona, the gravelly-voiced comedian, best known for his work on television shows “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn,” “Saturday Night Live” and “Remote Control” is actually kind of a pussycat in real life, or so he says.

“Everybody tones down over the years,” he explained during a recent telephone interview. “It’s mostly because of my voice, it’s always been like this, it’s my voice more than the material.”

Mr. Quinn, fresh off a successful run of “Long Story Short” at the Helen Hayes Theater in Manhattan and a live comedy special of the same name taped at the West Village theater, which aired on HBO, will be bringing the show to Guild Hall in East Hampton, starting Wednesday, June 8. The show, which has been described as a “hilarious blend of incisive observation, sharp commentary and Colin’s channeling of personalities of the past”—from Socrates to Snooki—has been informally subtitled “The History of the World in 75 Minutes.”

“It’s a hybrid of a stand-up and one man show,” Mr. Quinn said of “Long Story Short,” which is produced and directed by friend and fellow comedian Jerry Seinfeld. “He said he’d produce it sight unseen,” Mr. Quinn added about how Mr. Seinfeld became attached to the project. “That was cool. Then I asked, ‘how do you feel about directing it?’ and he said, ‘all right, yeah.’”

During 75-minute show, Mr. Quinn will give his spin on the history of the world and humankind, while touching on the economic crisis, the Middle East, popular culture and more. He said that he will for sure be adding some new material for the Hamptons run of the show, which continues on select nights at Guild Hall through Sunday, June 26.

“I’ll definitely be making changes, I’ll play around,” he said.

One of the themes that runs throughout the show, from the ancient Greeks and Romans to the world theater of today, is that of “tough guys versus smart guys.” Comparing world conflicts and historical enmity to a bunch of guys getting into fistfights, Mr. Quinn’s brand of humor hits home in a way that is both satisfyingly sophisticated and earthy.

A big part of the comedian’s charm is his rough-and-tumble persona. But for someone whose delivery is definitely “tough guy,” his astute and incisive commentary is actually quite “smart guy” in “Long Story Short.” That said, the comedian’s blue collar-type musings come off casually as off-the-cuff riffs spoken by a guy sitting next to a fellow bar-stool patron rather than a stiff or staid pedantic lecture on morals or manners.

And though he seems to be the antithesis of someone who would love the East End, Mr. Quinn expressed his fondness for the area. He said that he is really looking forward to spending some time at the water, and perhaps at Mr. Seinfeld’s house (“I love Jerry’s house, it’s pretty decent,” he said when asked where he would stay during the run of the show), if his friend will have him.

“I’ve been to the Hamptons many times. I act annoyed about it like everyone else but I actually really like it there,” he confided. He said that Montauk is probably his favorite spot out east “because of all the Irish people.”

And believe it or not, said the self-professed “city guy,” the call of the country life is a strong one.

“I’m planning to buy and move to the Hamptons in 20 years, don’t think it’s not going to happen,” he said. “Expect another ‘citiot’ in the next few years!”

Colin Quinn’s “Long Story Short,” directed by Jerry Seinfeld, will stage at Guild Hall in East Hampton from Wednesday, June 8, through Sunday, June 26. Performances are Tuesdays through Fridays and Sundays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 7 and 10 p.m. Tickets range from $30 to $75, or $28 to $70 for Guild Hall members. Call 324-4050, (866) 811-4111 or visit guildhall.org for information and reservations.