Las Vegas Little Theatre to present comedic play 'Moon Over Buffalo'
By DANIELLE NADLER
VIEW STAFF WRITER
Special to ViewFrom left, Rich Benites, Barbara King, John Ivanoff and Steve McMillan rehearse the Las Vegas Little Theatre?s production of "Moon Over Buffalo."
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The 31st season of Las Vegas Little Theatre opened last weekend with a surge of comedic energy on its main stage as a cast of 10 told the story of Ken Ludwig's play "Moon over Buffalo."
The comedy, under the direction of Sarah O'Connell, runs until Sept. 28.
The characters in "Moon over Buffalo" slam doors, flail their arms, stumble in wild drunkenness and run from one end of the stage to the other as they work to solve constant dilemmas.
"The actors are definitely out of breath by the end of the show," Las Vegas Little Theatre president Walter Niejadlik said. "They're playing these '50s theater actors, so they're larger than life."
The dynamic play tells the tale of traveling actors George and Charlotte Hay, who are on the last legs of second-rate show business when a final shot at fame emerges. If they can balance the drama in their lives backstage with the drama onstage, they could win big-time movie roles.
Barbara King, who plays Charlotte Hay, said the comedy, set in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1953, is ultimately a tribute to theater.
"This is at a time when TV had just started gaining popularity," she said. "People didn't just go to the theater like they used to."
King added that Ludwig's messages are packaged in laugh-out-loud performances.
"I've done comedies in the past, but this is the first time I've done a knock-down, drug-out farce," said King, who's acted in three other Las Vegas Little Theatre productions. "We've split our sides over this one."
Las Vegas Little Theatre performed Ludwig's play "Lend me a Tenor" last season, and its success made Ludwig's "Moon over Buffalo" an obvious choice for this season's opener.
"Ludwig creates these outrageous characters," Niejadlik said. "His dialogue is witty and funny. It makes for really good comedy."
The theater troupe bills itself at the longest-running community theater company in Las Vegas. Its main stage brings mainstream shows for a wide audience each season to entertain, and its Black Box Theater shows edgier productions geared toward a young adult crowd.
Performances of "Moon over Buffalo" are at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday; at 8 p.m. Sept. 25-27, and 2 p.m. Sept. 28 at Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive.
Tickets are $22 for adults, $19 for seniors and students, and group rates are available for 10 or more.
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