One day while writing the play, the title just popped into my head. “ Moon Over Miami was a popular film in the 1940s and was thought of as the epitome of romance. A very funny character actor, Colin lights every show he is in and provides a much-needed comedic rescue for Moon Over Buffalo. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / )Ī special shout-out goes to Colin Dusome as hapless weatherman Howard who, despite mostly being shoved out doors or maliciously manhandled, gives the funniest and most charming performance in the play. Micheal Chapman as George and Michael Hart as Paul in Lindsay Little Theatre’s production of “Moon Over Buffalo”. Supporting performances are by Kaitlyn Thibodeau as Eileen and Jeff Condon as Richard, whose romantic entanglements threaten the future of the theatre (not to mention George and Charlotte’s marriage), and Bonnie Kelly as Charlotte’s crusty mother Ethel, who has most of the show’s best zingers. While Michael keeps it straight, Shannon plays it bored and haughty, making for the biggest laughs of the show. The highlight of the show for me was a hilarious reading of Noel Coward’s Private Lives by Michael and Shannon Peters-Bain. The pair have an unlikely comedic chemistry, and Michael gives a delightful performance. However, some of the funniest scenes are between Michael and co-star Michael Hart, who plays stage manager Paul. He meets his match in Lorna, who remains spot on and steady through the entire production. The audience can find comedy as George, a likeable cad, has the worst day of his life.Īs George, Michael is highly energetic with expressions that fall somewhere between actor Tom Ewell and comic book hero Plastic Man. In the Lindsay Little Theatre production of Moon Over Buffalo, Michael Chapman and Loran Green are well cast in the roles of George and Charlotte Hay. But everyone soon needs to get things together because it is revealed that famous Hollywood director Frank Capra has lost his leading man to an accident on the set, and he is on his way to Buffalo to see the couple perform as possible replacements.įrom that moment on, everything goes wrong, leading to mistaken identities, misinformation, disastrous performances, and plenty of slamming doors in the classic comedic farce style. When George and Charlotte’s daughter Rosalind (Shannon Peters Bain), who gave up acting to live a ‘normal’ life, arrives in Buffalo to introduce her parents to her new fiancé Howard (Colin Dusome), she doesn’t expect to run into her old flame Paul (Michael Hart), who is producing the couple’s show.įurthermore, an unexpected night of passion paired with the return of an old flame threatens to break George and Charlotte up, marking the end of the theatre company. Performing daily performances of Cyrano de Bergerac and Private Lives, things are about to go from bad to worse for the couple. However, after a failed attempt to make it in Hollywood, where they perished in B-movies, George and Charlotte are now appearing in repertory theatre in Buffalo during an era where the advent of television is replacing people’s interest in theatre. Once famous on Broadway, the couple were the darlings of New York and even appeared on the cover of Life magazine. Set in 1953, Moon Over Broadway centres on the fading careers of married actors George and Charlotte Hay (Michael Chapman and Lorna Green). The show ran for 300 performances and has had a life on the stage ever since. A hit with curious audiences, the play saw Tony nominations for Burnett and her co-star Phillip Bosco, and was the subject of a documentary by famed filmmaker D.A. Written by award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig, Moon Over Buffalo debuted directly on Broadway in 1995, where it saw the return of comedian Carol Burnett on stage after 30-year absence. S., Lindsay, 705-324-911), online at or at the door before each performance (subject to availability).ĭirected by Pamela Brohm and Beth Harrington, Moon Over Buffalo is a likeable comedy lampooning the backstage antics of repertory theatre and the ambitions of aging actors who have seen better days. Tickets are available in person or by phone at the Academy Theatre box office (2 Lindsay St. Starring Michael Chapman, Lorna Green, Shannon Peters Bain, Colin Dusome, Michael Hart, Kaitlyn Thiodeau, Jeff Condon, and Bonnie Kelly. Directed by Pamela Brohm and Beth Harrington. Where: >Lindsay Little Theatre (55 George St. When: Friday, September 27 and Saturday, Septemat 8 p.m., Friday, October 4 and Saturday, Octoat 8 p.m.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |