Moon Over Buffalo

I bought this play before an audition for it. I ended up landing the par of Ros, so it was worth it!

"Moon Over Buffalo" is a backstage farce that deliberately evokes the classic screen comedies of Howard Hawks ("Bringing Up Baby," "His Girl Friday") and Frank Capra ("Arsenic and Old Lace," "You Can't Take It With You"). Oddly enough, it uses the expected presence of Capra in the story as a normative "foil" to the drunken, cacophonous and eccentric behavior of the Hays' family. One might expect, especially at the comparatively late date of the setting (1952), the use of a more contemporary and influential director such as Huston, Preminger, or Wilder (it would be 30 years before "It's a Wonderful Life" would be rediscovered and Capra restored to influence.) But this is a play that, while inarguably entertaining its audience, is also in effect a somewhat self-serving "consolation" for actors. The play's "message" seems to be that notwithstanding unpredictable employment, unstable relationships, and bottoming out with the bottle, actors are blessed with a kind of insanity that enlivens our own dull existences while affirming their own free agency. In short, "Moon Over Buffalo" is a nice diversion and a broad and physical, fast-moving play that comes up considerably short of the deft and smart humor of a Cary Grant or the best cinematic "screwball" comedy scripts. On the other hand, there's no question that George Hays is a worthy predecessor, or successor (however you choose to view him), to that adorable if not always coherent lush, Peter O'Toole, himself an heir to John Barrymore, Erroll Flynn, and a host of impulsive, grown child-actors whose Thespianic ties were more with Dionysus than with modern-day press agents, career advisors, and personal trainers.

Moon Over Buffalo, is a refreshingly hilarious script. Once I began to read it, I could not put it down. It is a fast paced, farce that captures the attention of anyone reading it. It is just as fast on stage, and was a wonderful production. With a simple set, and a great varity of characters any group from a college theatre club to a community theatre can pull it off. It was a joy to direct, and I was told it was a joy to act in. I highly recommend it. Read it, Watch it, or Perform it, anyway you are promised a hit.

When you are reading a book or a script, do you find yourself bored, or rarely interrested? Well, I never laugh out loud while reading and I about died from it after reading this script. It is THE funniest play I have EVER read and I reccomend it to any theater company... except maybe a children's company. There is no lack of raunchy sex jokes and misunderstood situations. George and Charlotte Hay, a famous acting couple, are doing Rep. at a sham theater in Buffalo, New York. They are horribly upset that director Frank Capra in Hollywood has not chosen them to star in his new movie, "The Twilight of the Scarlet Pimpernel."In the mean time, Charlotte finds out from Richard Maynard (a lawyer friend of the Hay's who continually tries to sweep Charlotte off her feet) that their company isn't making the payroll and their financial situation is quite serious. In the meantime Paul, Charlotte and George's stage manager, tries to find George and tell him that he has impregnated Eileen, an actress in the company. In the midst of all the chaos, Rosalind, George and Charlotte's daughter, has come to tell the family that she is getting married and has brought her fiancee (the rather nerdy weather man, Howard.) to meet the family (who unfortunately meets him, first. Ethel, her slightly deaf grandma, for example). Paul happens to be an old flame of Roz's. In fact, they were almost married, but Roz wanted to lead a normal life. Charlotte finds out that her husband has been sleeping with Eileen and all hell breaks loose when George disappears, then shows up drunk as a skunk a half hour before the matinee. This play is an absolute riot. It's a big audience pleaser, and good for a laugh if you just need something funny to read.