LA theater scene: comedy & love at NoHo’s El Portal Theatre

 The world needs less chaos and more love, laughter & great entertainment. To boost that idea, the historic El Portal Theatre has entertaining shows sure to delight audiences.

Review: Comic Fritz Coleman brings the laughs to the best live comedy show in LA

 The hilarious Fritz Coleman took up his Sunday afternoon residency at 3 p.m. in the Monroe Forum at the El Portal Theatre on August 6. So, of course, laughter was echoing throughout the historic showplace in North Hollywood. 

  It was the first of four monthly Fritz Coleman’s Unassisted Residency shows on the schedule. He’ll be carrying on through November, and Fritz promises new material each show, sprinkled among his comedy classics about the calamities of aging.

  Coleman produced an abundance of belly laughs at the performance, along with his ultra-funny friend Wendy Liebman who opened the show.

 “I’m happy to do matinees with no intermission so the Baby Boomers can get home before dark,” he jokes. Among the shared experiences he finds with his multi-generational audience are the horrors of technology. “I don’t want to start my car with my phone from inside the house,” Fritz snaps. Other funny subjects he explores, being a weather forecaster, having grandchildren, pharmaceuticals, and vegan encounters.

  Fritz weaves eloquent and hysterical tales about every day life. He is a comedic master, and to his credit Coleman works clean. No nasty potty-mouth tirades, and no politics. Bless him.

  Fritz Coleman’s Unassisted Residency next shows scheduled for September 10, October 15, and November 26, all at 3 p.m., in the Monroe Forum at the historic El Portal Theatre, located at 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, California, in the NoHo Arts District. For tickets call 818-508-4200 or go to ElPortalTheatre.com.

 

Also coming to the El Portal the romantic comedy LOVE AMONG THE RUINS starring Peter Strauss and JoBeth Willams.

  The hilarious romantic courtroom classic Love Among the Ruins, adapted from the Peabody and multi-Emmy Award winning ABC Theatre Presentation starring Katharine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier, is greater than ever with this newly reinvented version.

 The story follows Jessica Medlicott (JoBeth Williams), once a great actress she is now a beautiful and wealthy widow. She is accused of “breach of promise” by a handsome young Naval officer who claims she promised to marry him. Her only hope may be the greatest barrister at the Old Bailey, Sir Arthur Granville Jones (Peter Strauss). Jessica is no ordinary client for him and the sparks that fly as she drives Sir Arthur to distraction and keeps the audience guessing, laughing and crying until the very end.

Love Among the Ruins runs October 6 through Oct. 28, 2023, on the Debbie Reynolds Mainstage at the El Portal Theatre. For tickets and information call 818-508-4200 or online at www.elportaltheatre.com.LA


Margie Barron has written for a wide variety of outlets including Gannett newspapers, Nickelodeon, Tiger Beat and 16 Magazine, Fresh!, Senior Life, Production Update, airline magazines, etc. Margie is also proud to have been half of the husband & wife writing team Frank & Margie Barron, who had written together for various entertainment and travel publications for more than 38 years.

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