Stand-up comedy spotlight:
Marlénas McMahon-Purk
Marlénas McMahon-Purk
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Published by Sareth Ney on July 25, 2017 at 7:21 a.m.
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Photo credit: Steve Tyson, Jr.
Sareth Ney: What inspired you to perform stand-up comedy?
Marlénas McMahon-Purk: I did improv from my teens through my early 20s. People kept saying I should go into stand-up. I feel like a lot of New Yorkers are stand-up comedians from birth, so it was hard for me to wrap my mind around the concept that I would be dedicating time to perfecting things I might say on any day. Peer pressure won one day on the Lower East Side and I’m really enjoying the journey.
SN: What was the feeling like, when you first performed stand-up comedy?
MMP: First, “I’m supposed to be doing this.” Second, “Oh, G-d, you mean have to tell the same joke more than once?!”
SN: What are your favorite comedy specials and record albums?
MMP: “It’s Pimpin’ Pimpin” (Katt Williams); “Katt Williams Live”; “Priceless” (Katt Williams); “My Name is Hannibal” (Hannibal Buress); “Weirdo” (Donald Glover); “Big Les: Problem Child” (Leslie Jones); “New in Town” (John Mulaney); “I’m Sorry You Feel That Way” (Bill Burr); “Bring the Pain” (Chris Rock); “Never Scared” (Chris Rock); “3 Mics” (Neil Brennan); “Reality…What a Concept” (Robin Williams); “A Wild and Crazy Guy” (Steve Martin). This list could go on and on.
SN: What are your favorite sketch shows, sitcoms and comedy films?
MMP: “Key and Peele”, “Saturday Night Live” (“SNL”), “Big Gay Sketch Show”, “Community”, “Family Guy”, “Regular Show”, “Chappelle’s Show”, “The Jacksons”, “I Heart Huckabees” is my favorite movie. It’s about existential detectives!
SN: If you could go on tour with any comedian, which one would you choose?
MMP: Katt Williams
SN: If you could get roasted by five comedians (past or present), which ones would you choose?
MMP: I feel like my family has this covered but definitely Desus and Mero. Comedians in the vaudeville era; they sound ridiculous enough to soften the blow, maybe Desus and Mero with vaudevillian accents.
SN: Which other forms of comedy would you like to venture off into?
MMP: I’m enjoying the standup wave, but I’m open to most things. I want to bring people jokes they haven’t heard before on subjects they haven’t heard before with angles on those subjects in those jokes they’ve never heard before. So, to answer the question, all (e.g. one-liners, long-form storytelling).
SN: What experience would you like for your audience to take with them, after a set is over?
MMP: Whatever situation you’re in, it’s okay. It’s okay to be you. Feel comfortable with who you are and what your lived experience is. Also, I would like them to experience taking one of my business cards so they can book me.
SN: Where do you see your comedy career, in the next five years?
MMP: I’m a very journey-oriented person. I see myself garnering the respect of my peers, which is rewarding in its own right but also leads to more bookings. I work on the craft and the business every day. Jokes keep me up at night and I don’t even mind.
MMP: I’m producing and hosting shows now, going to festivals across the country, performing in features, showcases, and contests. The five year plan will hopefully bring me more opportunities. I want to use comedy as a vehicle for social change; so, although there are details to be ironed out, that’s my general direction. I don’t think there can be a timetable on that aside from a commitment to the strategy.
SN: Where can the readers find you online and on social media?
MMP: I was one of the first writers for Gomerblog, the medical version of “The Onion”—under the alias “Thyroid Storm”. My Instagram and Twitter are both @rillitho.
Editor's note: This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
Marlénas McMahon-Purk: I did improv from my teens through my early 20s. People kept saying I should go into stand-up. I feel like a lot of New Yorkers are stand-up comedians from birth, so it was hard for me to wrap my mind around the concept that I would be dedicating time to perfecting things I might say on any day. Peer pressure won one day on the Lower East Side and I’m really enjoying the journey.
SN: What was the feeling like, when you first performed stand-up comedy?
MMP: First, “I’m supposed to be doing this.” Second, “Oh, G-d, you mean have to tell the same joke more than once?!”
SN: What are your favorite comedy specials and record albums?
MMP: “It’s Pimpin’ Pimpin” (Katt Williams); “Katt Williams Live”; “Priceless” (Katt Williams); “My Name is Hannibal” (Hannibal Buress); “Weirdo” (Donald Glover); “Big Les: Problem Child” (Leslie Jones); “New in Town” (John Mulaney); “I’m Sorry You Feel That Way” (Bill Burr); “Bring the Pain” (Chris Rock); “Never Scared” (Chris Rock); “3 Mics” (Neil Brennan); “Reality…What a Concept” (Robin Williams); “A Wild and Crazy Guy” (Steve Martin). This list could go on and on.
SN: What are your favorite sketch shows, sitcoms and comedy films?
MMP: “Key and Peele”, “Saturday Night Live” (“SNL”), “Big Gay Sketch Show”, “Community”, “Family Guy”, “Regular Show”, “Chappelle’s Show”, “The Jacksons”, “I Heart Huckabees” is my favorite movie. It’s about existential detectives!
SN: If you could go on tour with any comedian, which one would you choose?
MMP: Katt Williams
SN: If you could get roasted by five comedians (past or present), which ones would you choose?
MMP: I feel like my family has this covered but definitely Desus and Mero. Comedians in the vaudeville era; they sound ridiculous enough to soften the blow, maybe Desus and Mero with vaudevillian accents.
SN: Which other forms of comedy would you like to venture off into?
MMP: I’m enjoying the standup wave, but I’m open to most things. I want to bring people jokes they haven’t heard before on subjects they haven’t heard before with angles on those subjects in those jokes they’ve never heard before. So, to answer the question, all (e.g. one-liners, long-form storytelling).
SN: What experience would you like for your audience to take with them, after a set is over?
MMP: Whatever situation you’re in, it’s okay. It’s okay to be you. Feel comfortable with who you are and what your lived experience is. Also, I would like them to experience taking one of my business cards so they can book me.
SN: Where do you see your comedy career, in the next five years?
MMP: I’m a very journey-oriented person. I see myself garnering the respect of my peers, which is rewarding in its own right but also leads to more bookings. I work on the craft and the business every day. Jokes keep me up at night and I don’t even mind.
MMP: I’m producing and hosting shows now, going to festivals across the country, performing in features, showcases, and contests. The five year plan will hopefully bring me more opportunities. I want to use comedy as a vehicle for social change; so, although there are details to be ironed out, that’s my general direction. I don’t think there can be a timetable on that aside from a commitment to the strategy.
SN: Where can the readers find you online and on social media?
MMP: I was one of the first writers for Gomerblog, the medical version of “The Onion”—under the alias “Thyroid Storm”. My Instagram and Twitter are both @rillitho.
Editor's note: This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sareth Ney is the journalist for A Quarter and Dream Pictures. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications and Center for New Media from Colorado State University-Pueblo. He is a former apprentice to master of horror, Clive Barker. He is a Wu-Tang Clan inspired superhero, Wu-Man Chu. He is an award-winning short filmmaker; his goal is to write 150 articles in select time zones, inducts every article into his hall of fame, is a stand-up comedian, motivational speaker, founder and co-host of Pueblo's Independent Multimedia Podcast and is the festival director at Sareth-Fest Music and Comedy Festival.
