The Return of The Public Squares

By John Benson

Fri 2/1 + Sat 2/2

In case you haven’t noticed, we live in a world of comedy snobs. Just as most comics (Marc Maron, for example) loathe prop comedians (Carrot Top, we’re looking at you!), a divide exists in the public regarding improvisation and sketch comedy.

It’s the latter style of comedy that is starting to gain acceptance of late with the popular Last Call Cleveland troupe. Now comes word The Public Squares, a sketch act that last performed in 2007, is, well, putting the band back together. The Public Squares presents “Is Speed Dating an Olympic Sport?” or “The Return of The Public Squares” original sketch comedy show taking place Fri 2/1 and Sat 2/2 at the Green Road Annex (John Carroll University building) in University Heights.

Cool Cleveland talked to The Public Squares Producer Marjorie Preston, a graduate of the Second City Chicago Advanced Sketch Comedy Writing Program, about the reunion and the misconceptions of sketch comedy.

Cool Cleveland: Tell us a little bit about The Public Squares.

Marjorie Preston: We are a sketch comedy group that started in 2003. I joined them in 2007. That’s also when we had our last shows. I’ve been trying to get these guys to do a show since 2009. For this show we have some original Squares, (I’m one who came on in the middle) and we have some Squares who are brand-new to writing sketch or performing sketch. They’ve done acting but never done comedy sketch writing or performing. In fact, at least four things were wrote by someone who has never written before. It was a series of speed dating sketches. We thought this was really good to follow the trajectory of this one hapless guy as he goes on these speed dates and things don’t go well for him.

What kind of run did The Public Squares enjoy in its heyday?

In 2007, when I came on, we did two shows at the Hermit Club that sold pretty well. And we never really ended. Life got in the way. I was pregnant for both of the shows in 2007. It’s a matter of fitting it in between work and life commitments. It’s one of those things I’ve been bugging them since 2009, saying we really ought to get the Squares going on. We talked this summer about doing a show and the director mentioned there might be some money in the bank. We still had a few hundred dollars sitting in an account somewhere that we could rent a space and do all of this stuff. I said, “Try to stop me now.”

What are some comparisons for The Public Squares?

There are only a handful of sketch comedy troupes left in town, Laughter League, Last Call Cleveland and us. Saturday Night Live is a good reference. Whatever people bring to the table in terms of their comedy references, that’s great. We’re bringing our own life experiences to the writing. That’s why we have a lot of people in their 20s and 30s writing about dating and relationships. I wrote about pregnancy because that’s what I’m dealing with right now. It’s all very personal, and we hope people can identify with it and enjoy it. So it’s fresh, all new creative material that we created ourselves. We wanted to keep sketch comedy alive in Cleveland.

Wait, you were pregnant in 2007. You’re pregnant again?

I’ll be eight and a half months pregnant for these shows. And we’re doing a full-on Ke$ha parody number with everybody looking like they’re ready to give birth.

We’re guessing you won’t need any prop costumes for this sketch.

[laughs] No, I don’t need a pillow under my hospital gown but the others do.

Finally, what’s the biggest misconception about sketch comedy?

People seem to think comedy is easy but it’s really hard, involves really good timing and writing. Anyone who has done that will attest. And we’ve got some talented people.

The Public Squares presents “Is Speed Dating an Olympic Sport?” or “The Return of The Public Squares” original sketch comedy show taking place at 8 p.m. Fri 2/1 and Sat 2/2 at the Green Road Annex (John Carroll University building), 2200 South Green Road in University Heights. The show features adult language and themes, and is not suitable for children. Tickets are $10. For reservations, visit http://ThePublicSquares.com/tickets.

 


Freelance writer John Benson spends most of his time writing for various papers throughout Northeast Ohio.

When he’s not writing about music or entertainment, he can be found coaching his two boys in basketball, football and baseball or watching movies with his lovely wife, Maria. John also occasionally writes for CoolCleveland.com.

 

 

 

 

University Heights, OH

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One Response to “The Return of The Public Squares”

  1. Pat Ballasch

    The problem with being critical of any kind of snob is you’re stepping in the same shit they’re in.

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