On the Town: Coleman contributes comedy at the Colony
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While this past Saturday’s forecast for rain was shrugged off in typical Southern Californian “I’ll-believe-it-when-I-see-it” fashion, the call for an evening of laughter was taken seriously by those who attended An Evening with Fritz Coleman at the Colony Theatre.
Staged as a fundraiser for the 270-seat downtown venue that is fighting for survival as it struggles with financial challenges, a full-house of Colony Theatre supporters came out in force to enjoy the comedic stylings of Fritz Coleman, who is celebrating his 33rd year of weather forecasting with NBC Los Angeles.
Commenting on the evening’s prognostication for precipitation, Coleman assured attendees he would keep them updated throughout the show.
“Los Angeles is currently under a stage-two drizzle advisory,” he told the crowd shortly after being introduced by Barbara Beckley, the theater’s executive director. “But don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know if there is any change in that status.”
Enjoying Saturday’s post-show meet-and-greet VIP reception with Fritz Coleman were, from left, former Burbank Mayor Larry Stamper, with fellow Colony Theatre supporters, Lynda McCourry, Joan Chandler and Chris Gargaro.
Coleman, whose topic for the evening was primarily centered on how Baby Boomers are handling the foray into their senior years, also took the first few moments of his show to assure the audience that, contrary to the evidence, El Niño still looms out there.
“It’s just off the coast waiting to see how the [Donald] Trump thing works out,” he quipped. “It doesn’t want to come here and then get deported.”
Among the topics Coleman deftly infused with his wit and humor throughout the evening were how the world has dramatically changed since the Boomers were kids, and how many of them are having a hard time dealing with something they never thought would happen to them: getting old.
“Every day, something reminds you that you are aging,” said the father of three and grandfather of two. “You are constantly getting letters from AARP and the Neptune Society, and every conversation you have with your friends includes a health and medical update.”
With the recurring theme that Boomers are a “tougher generation” than those who have followed, Coleman delighted the crowd as he drew comparisons to the video games today’s youth are obsessed with and the popular toys of the 1950s and ‘60s.
“We had toys like Pick-Up Sticks,” Coleman said in a deadpanned tone. “You’d drop sticks on the floor and then pick them up. And we even had to read the instructions before we played it.”
He also used the evening to point out the vast differences in child rearing that have taken place over the past 50 years.
“We played outside all day,” he recalled. “Today, kids don’t go outside, and if they do, they aren’t allowed to go past the end of the driveway and are told if they are kidnapped, to be sure to tell their kidnappers about their peanut allergy.”
He also blamed global warming on the use of sunblock. “When we are kids, we basked in the sun covered in oil,” Coleman said. “Today, kids are so heavily frosted with SPF 50 that the heat from the sun reflects off them and back out into the atmosphere.”
Along with the levity and laughter, Coleman also left Saturday’s audience with some wisdom to ponder: “Life is like a car with a broken gas gauge,” he opined. “You never know how far you’re going to go, so you have to do all you can to enjoy the ride.”
Following the show on Saturday, VIP ticket holders, including former Burbank Mayor Larry Stamper, and Burbank Arts for All Executive Director Trena Pitchford, had the opportunity to spend time with Coleman during a private reception.
For more information about the Colony Theatre, future fundraisers and how you can make a tax-deductible donation, visit colonytheatre.org or call (800) 838-3006.
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DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
