Theater Review

Tom Titus

Backstage comedies have become a favorite genre of local theater

groups, with plays such as “Footlight Frenzy,” “Play On,” “Jitters” and

others periodically dotting the area’s marquees.

In this tradition comes “Moon Over Buffalo,” a wacky exercise in

excess from Ken Ludwig, whose “Lend Me a Tenor” entertained audiences on

several fronts recently. It’s the opening salvo in the Newport Theater

Arts Center’s new season.

“Buffalo” makes the frenetic “Tenor” seem like a drawing room comedy

by comparison. Its slam-bang, in-one-door-and-out-the-other farcical

foolishness is an extremely demanding exercise in the broadest of comedy,

a formidable challenge to both actors and director which is only

partially overcome on the Newport stage.

Ludwig’s play is set in a regional Buffalo, N.Y., theater in 1953 (why

this long-ago period is open to question) where a husband and wife acting

team holds forth, offering “Cyrano de Bergerac” and “Private Lives” in

repertory. As might be expected, there are large, thick slices of ham on

the theater’s menu.

Director Ken Rugg tackles the tricky project with great gusto, placing

a great deal of emphasis on broad, physical comic bits but scant

attention to details such as making actors hold telephones to their

upstage ears or “aging up” youthful performers playing older characters.

The primary guilty party in the latter instance is Davis Mejia,

playing the skirt-chasing, egocentric leading actor of the troupe. Mejia

does yeoman duty as the primary farceur, excelling in a rip-roaring drunk

scene which would only be effective in a play of this style, but he’s far

too young for the role, which damages his credibility.

“Moon Over Buffalo”’ is known as the play that brought Carol Burnett

back to Broadway, and Linda VanDine is a near-ringer for the TV legend as

Mejia’s contentious wife and co-star. However, VanDine lacks her

character’s requisite comic punch and comes off as merely shrewish rather

than comically sympathetic.

Sophie Areno turns in the most totally realized performance as their

daughter, who’s trying to exit the family business only to be pulled back

for an emergency fill-in -- the obligatory scene governed by Murphy’s

law. Areno, who seethes and sparkles simultaneously, shares the role with

Deborah Garrett in alternate performances.

Shawn Berry also makes a fine impression as her fiance, a squarish TV

weatherman who, inexplicably, turns up as Gen. Patton in the panicky

performance scene. Jack Millis will take over in performances Thursday

through Sept. 26.

The hard-of-hearing wardrobe mistress, and also the mother of

VanDine’s character, is given a salty touch by Leslie Holland, whose

constant repairing of Mejia’s costume is a nice running gag.

A delicious bit of eye candy is Carolyn Fears as a statuesque,

red-haired ingenue tutored by Mejia on the casting couch. Mark Herron is

properly stiff as the staid suitor hoping to take VanDine away from all

the insanity.

The newly expanded and refurbished theater also offers a revolving set

-- designed by Corey B. Holst who also supervises the lighting -- which

turns to form the “Private Lives” balcony. It gives the community theater

a professional touch.

“Moon Over Buffalo” is an uneven production which, nevertheless,

offers slices of splendid farcical comedy. It’s particularly attractive

to those in the theater who have experienced moments like these

themselves.

CUTLINE: Davis Mejia and Linda VanDine play a scene from “Cyrano de

Bergerac” in the farcical comedy “Moon Over Buffalo” at the Newport

Theater Arts Center.

WHAT: “Moon Over Buffalo”

WHERE: Newport Theater Arts Center, 2501 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach

WHEN: Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through

Oct. 10.

HOW MUCH: $13

PHONE: (949) 631-0288