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Fritz Coleman in "On the Fritz: An Evening with Fritz Coleman." (Photo courtesy of Alysa Brennan) |
In an unexpected irony, Fritz Coleman - the best-known TV weatherman in Los Angeles - is on vacation during the first true streak of actual weather (other than hot) that the area has had in months.
Fortunately for those in the South Bay, Coleman has taken the time off to perform his latest one-man production, "On the Fritz: An Evening With Fritz Coleman," running through Jan. 31 at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse.
His three previous shows - "Tonight at 11," "The Reception" and "It's Me! Dad!" - are plot-driven and cover a variety of emotions. This time, Coleman is out for laughs, and he earns them by reviving some of his most successful stand-up comedy material, along with some new bits.
Always likable and charismatic, Coleman delivers an engaging first act, which he follows with an informative and occasionally humorous question and answer segment after an intermission.
Proving that he is able to go with the flow, Coleman opened Thursday evening's performance with a jab at the current spate of rainy days, stating that his bosses at Channel 4 wish he was at work now that there's something to discuss.
Coleman makes no bones about being lucky to be on TV for two minutes, three times a day, giving people information they could get by simply looking out the window.
He's also amused that people blame him for the weather, in particular the heat.
"It's summer," he says. "I'm sorry you didn't see it coming."
Working without a set, except for a few large color photos of Los Angeles landmarks, Coleman uses crisp descriptions to paint scenes, whether talking about the environment or his children.
One of the funniest segments concerns Coleman's trip to his childhood hometown near Philadelphia. The memories of dangerous playground equipment and school cafeteria hot lunches will resonate with most baby boomers.
Although he is 61, Coleman is able to connect with younger crowds - even if they don't share his experiences - by finding the universal aspects of a situation.
His skills go beyond finding everyday humor in various topics. His relaxed style and gift for language add depth, as though he's having a one-on-one conversation.
The lone criticism comes from the second act. Though he generously fielded about a dozen questions on this particular evening, most of them required a dry or detailed answer, so the laughs became scarce. By cutting this nearly 30-minute period in half, Coleman could combine both sections into one act.
In the meantime, anyone planning to attend "On the Firtz" would help matters by coming up with intriguing questions, even if they involve criticizing Coleman, who promises not to take it personally. Perhaps he will predict the weather on request if you ask nicely.
Even if future question periods lack the steady stream of spot-on jokes of the first act, it probably won't ever get dull, thanks to Coleman's intelligence and quick wit. There's a reason he's been a daily fixture on TV for 26 years, and it's made clear with "On the Fritz."
On the Fritz - An Evening With Fritz Coleman
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 31, with an additional show at 7 tonight.
Where: Hermosa Beach Playhouse, 710 Pier Ave.
Tickets: $35-$45.
Information: 310-372-4477 or www.hermosabeachplayhouse.com.
Our rating: 3 STARS
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