The NEW Eddie Lounge Show – The Lord of the Lounge Tour
Our Award: 5 Fringes
“Oh, sweet Caroline
Good times never seem so good.”
As the audience was swaying back and forth with their blue glow sticks during the encore, which happened to be that famous syrupy Neil Diamond standard, I looked around and saw everyone at The New Eddie Lounge Show-The Lord of The Lounge Tour with a wide grin on their faces. The stars were out in full force on opening night, and watching Jaylee Mead clapping along, told me that this was indeed the place to be!
He’s baaaaack! I relished Eddie’s cranberry jacket (that has some weird design – maybe a dragon or a lizard or a fox? on both sides of the bottom of the jacket and on the side of the sleeves), and that red shirt. It’s spiffy, and classy and so loungey!
Eddie Lounge (Ed Spitzberg) and his friends Brandy Alexander (Brianne Cobuzzi) and Rocco Rupert (Josh Adler) spent an hour dazzling, singing, schmoozing and charming the socks out of the audience, even getting some audience members to join them onstage to participate in their shenanigans.
Watching the chemistry between these three great entertainers, you can’t help but long for the good ol’ days when great lounge singers and entertainers filled up Las Vegas, our cabarets and TV shows like Hollywood Palace and The Ed Sullivan Show. I miss those days!
What a difference a larger venue makes! Last year, the show was crammed into the very small Warehouse Next Door. But this year, with more space in the Arena Stage Black Box, the show is bigger and better in many ways-more great songs, great lighting and sound, and The Cosmos – with Dave Spitzberg (Eddie’s bro who plays a mean drum and trumpet)), Ron Bohn and John LeBombard -sound like a Big Band.
But most of all, there’s more room for Eddie and his cohorts to play in and they take advantage of every inch of that stage to kibbitz with the audience. You feel like you are actually in a Vegas lounge. Eddie never lets you forget that you are in the presence of a great showman and his special friends, whose only goal is to entertain you.
I don’t want to give away all the brilliant selection of songs that’s in the show. Forget it. I lied – I’ll give away my two favorites – ” I Believe In Miracles,” and “You Don’t Know Me,” which really showed off the great vocal prowess of Ms. Cobuzzi who can really belt. And she’s a great comedienne. And when you put her together with Eddie, they make a great team, playing off each other like George and Gracie.
So, what are you waiting for? Lounge your way to the Capitol Fringe website and buy tickets to The New Eddie Lounge Show. By the reaction of the opening night audience, there won’t be many tickets to buy.
“Good times never been so good.”
(Running time: 70 minutes)
Dear Eddie,
So sorry I didn[t get to come to Washington this year to see your show. If it is better than last year, it is hard to believe. Love reading the write up about the show. Wish I could see it, but it is a long way from Little Rock and I have a more important trip to Washington in October.
All kinds of success to you, your brother,David, and the cast.
Grandma
Thanks for the 5 Fringes, Joel! Hope everyone can bask in the warm glow of the disco ball.
See you all at the Lounge, and may all your martinis be dry!
Eddie
Three cheers for Eddie, Brandy, Rocco, and the band! I saw the show on Tuesday night and it was fabulously campy. For those who saw Eddie last year (in a performance that received many great reviews), I rate this year’s show as even better. If you want to burst out laughing, enjoy quality vocals, and hear a few tunes that you might not listen to every day – go see this show!