“Erectile Dysfunction is no joke. Or is It?” The musical laughs at real-life health problem with Broadway actress Ms. Laws
Lonesome Music Productions (LMP) proudly presents Butch DuBarri’s “E.D. Blues: The Musical” at the historic El Portal Mainstage Theatre in North Hollywood in NoHo Arts District, June 16th, 17th and June 18th.
Theatregoers will get an upfront and personal performance with new provocative romantic comedy “E.D. Blues” a.k.a “Erectile Dysfunction is no joke. Or is It?”
Centered on romance and everyday life, the light hearted musical pokes fun at the common health problem of impotence among older men.
“Erectile dysfunction, it’s a medical term. It’s something that everybody knows about. It’s a subject for the male population, and for women too. But, we have some fun with it and we cure it in the show,” DuBarri tells tolucantimes.info.
“E.D. Blues: The Musical,” similar to “Menopause the Musical,” gives men a chance to laugh at a subject that is both publically and privately known.
“You have this older man who loves a younger woman, but can’t perform and yet he can’t take those pills that they advertise on TV, because it states check with your doctor first. We address all of that in the play, said DuBarri. “The play is totally fiction, buts it based on the truth.”
The mature subject presents comedy relief for the audience.
“E.D. Blues” will have audiences laughing about a topic that needs some attention. “We have adapted the line that Viagra uses in their ads for our show. We say “Ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough to laugh out loud for two hours!” DuBarri noted. “Its comedy from the beginning to the end.”
“The characters are all people that you know, everyone knows a barber, plumber, waitress and preacher. You put all that together and then you talk about Viagra and Cialis … who hasn’t heard of those things?” he states.
“I think it’s a street opera for the common man. Its set apart from any other musical and original.”
The show entertains the audience with original music from pop, R&B, jazz to blues created by 70s’ rock band members Butch DuBarri and Gary Dalton. The fitting song “Big Daddy’s On The Pill,” is staple song for the play.
Written and directed by DuBarri as well as Jeffrey Polk, the musical stars multi-ethnic cast: the plumber, Big Daddy’ Johnson (Andrew Bennet); veteran DVM, Dr. Sammy (Anthony Tone Tone Taylor); preacher, Rev. T. Tricky Brown (Larry James Robinson); ex-wife, Evil Evelyn Kardashian (Jennifer Winkler) hairdresser as Freddie Mac (Todd Gajdusck) and more.
Ms. Eloise Laws stars alongside the group of eclectic characters as vixen and aggressive nurse Zelma Foxy Fox. She showcases an out-of-the-box performance in the unique production, playing a cougar.
“She is quite a character. Zelma lets her feelings show, while letting her hair down. You will walk away laughing, singing the songs and talking about this piece,” said Laws. “This is quite a stretch for me, because this character Zelma Fox is a sexy, sensuous and aggressive woman who is a cougar. You will see another side of me. People will be shocked.”
“Her character is down in the hood,” said DuBarri. Some of her fans may be [shocked] by the songs she sings.” This is not as sophisticated as some may think.”
“When I first approached Ms. Laws with this piece, she immediately fell in love with it and accepted the challenge, saying “wow Butch this would be different for me,” responded DuBarri. “She may not know it, but she is a natural.”
Laws is a world renowned Broadway actress, singer, and author with more than 30 years in the entertainment industry, and comes from a family of notable musicians called “The Laws Family.” She rose to musical height during the golden age of 1970’s jazz, R&B and soul music, recording for producers Holland-Dozier-Holland, famous for Motown hits. She released a collective of albums in the late 70’s (“Eloise”), early 80’s (“All In Time”) and the early 2000’s (“Secrets”). Singles, “Don’t Move, Don’t Blink” and “Can’t Let Myself, Hurt Myself” released last year signifies female empowerment in love and romance. Her unique and passionate vocals have garnered her timeless fans who refer to her as “El.”
She starred and co-wrote the 4-time Tony-nominated musical, “It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues,” which premiered at the Denver Center Theatre Company and opened on Broadway at the Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre in 1999. Laws has conquered the theatre, receiving a Drama Desk nomination for Best Actress in a Broadway musical and a Helen Hayes Award nomination for her stunning performance at the Kennedy Center. Laws is not showing any signs of slowing down with latest play “E.D Blues.” “Theatre is my first love and I’ve done a lot of it,” states Laws.
“E.D. Blues: The Musical” will premiere at the El Portal Theatre for three shows on Friday and Saturday, June 16th and 17th at 8pm and Sunday, June 18th at 4pm. There will be a special Father’s Day Matinee – every lady who is accompanied by a gentleman will receive a special gift bag from the producer.
For tickets and information call (818) 508-4200 or visit ElPortalTheatre.com.
