Moonstruck: Dreams of stardom, comic farce at Center Stage with ‘Moon Over Buffalo’
Published 5:29 pm Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Valley Center Stage expects audiences to split their sides at the community theater’s next comedy, “Moon Over Buffalo.”
Set in the early 1950s in Buffalo, New York, the play centers on a family of actors trying to make a show come together. Former Broadway stars George and Charlotte Hay (played by locals Peter Cook and Denise Paulette) are reduced to playing Repertory Theater in Buffalo. Though they still dream of film stardom, they are keeping body and soul together with a half-deaf mother-in-law (Becky Rappin), their daughter, Roz (Lisa Bryant) and her ex-boyfriend stage manager Paul (Adam Hegg). By a lucky chance, they are offered the chance to perform for Frank Capra, a famous film director, scouting for his new film.
However, things go terribly wrong when George disappears because his wife discovers proof of a dalliance with a young local actress in the cast (Julia Buck). Everyone must find him and keep the play of their lives from falling apart.
Moon Over Buffalo has great physical comedy, a sword fight and a wild, whacky plot that includes a hapless local TV weatherman (Craig Ewing) and a rival for Charlotte’s affection, the company’s lawyer and the Hay’s personal manager (Jim Snyder). It is directed by veteran actor/director Alan Wilke.
The show opens on Thursday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m., and runs for three weekends through May 5, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $12.50 for students (15 and under) and seniors (62 and up) available online at www.valleycenterstage.org.
