Ken Ludwig’s hilarious play Moon Over Buffalo is sure to have audiences laughing when it plays at Peninsula Theatre for three weeks from May 17.
The zany farce, to be presented by Woy Woy Little Theatre (WWLT), centres on George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s.
They are playing Private Lives and Cyrano De Bergerac in rep in Buffalo, New York, and everything that can possibly go wrong, does.
The great movie director Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee, and if he likes what he sees, he just might cast them in his movie remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Naked ambition takes over as George and Charlotte do everything in their power to make Capra love them.
Director Jan Grounds said the play’s references to the golden years of Hollywood immediately caught her interest.
Add to that the fact that she has actually been to Buffalo and previously directed Private Lives for WWLT – and Grounds was hooked.
“This is an over-the-top comedy,” she said.
“It has everything from laugh-out-loud moments to slapstick and elements of farce.
“But underneath it all is a message of how to be resilient when things go wrong, relationship ups and downs and a homage to theatre.
“Those involved with theatre will recognise a lot in this play, with its many references to various plays and its underlying theme of a love of the stage.
“It also examines a variety of relationships – from mother/daughter to father/daughter and couple relationships and those outside family.”
Grounds said the play’s themes, highlighted by light comedy, provided a perfect vehicle for actors and she has assembled a fine cast, spearheaded by Yvonne Berry-Porter Larimore and Mark Austin as Charlotte and George.
She has worked with both actors before and is relishing the chance to collaborate again.
Also in the cast are Kassandra Brown as Rosalind, Darienne Knight as Ethel, Jake Cain-Roser as Howard, Samara Dawson as Eileen, Ryan Bates as Paul, and Scott Larimore as Richard.
Grounds has also worked with Knight previously, with Cain-Roser and Larimore known to Peninsula audiences and Dawson making her debut in a full-length play for the group.
Newcomer Bates has seized his role with gusto.
“I’ve loved the rehearsal process and think the actors have really enjoyed discovering the indiosyncrasies of their characters,” she said.
The show opens at Peninsula Theatre on Friday, May 17, for a three-week season.
For session times and bookings go to woywoylt.com