2008 Woodie Awards
Humor abounds in Buffalo
The student-directed Moon Over Buffalo played for the last time at 12:30 a.m.
Annemarie Grandstrand '09
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
At midnight on March 17, the Moon Over Buffalo was visible for the last time during its weekend-long run. Although it had been a long St. Patrick's Day, there was no sign of fatigue among the cast members. Their high-energy performance of Ken Ludwig's play turned the John Bowab Studio Theatre into a caged arena for warring inflated egos. I may have dragged my body into the Smith Center at an inconvenient time, but was delightfully pleased with what I found inside.
Directed by theatre major, Brett Epstein '09, Moon Over Buffalo is a slapstick comedy about traveling actors who are presented with the opportunity for their big break. Described as "Scranton without the charm," Buffalo, N.Y. seems to be a dead end until famous film director, Frank Capra, shows interest in George (Marc Francis '10) and Charlotte Hay's (Amy Hogan '08) show. However, careers that once appeared quite put together seem to fall apart. George's affair with squeaky-voiced actress, Eileen (Lauren Walker '09), produced not just a slight rift in his marriage to Charlotte but also an illegitimate pregnancy with Eileen. Charlotte, originally played by Carol Burnett in 1995, eventually succumbed to her lustful agent, played by Alex Curran '10. The third love triangle involves their daughter, Roz (Talia Pinzari '10), who was leaving her clammy-handed new boyfriend, endearingly played by Peter Cunis '10, for an old, persistent flame, Paul (Stephen Orlando '10).
Each character was well-developed, with his or her own shtick to offer. For those who aren't the biggest readers and opt to let the King Lear jokes fly over their head, there was still a simpler humor. Cunis played the quickly-chucked boyfriend and utilized his profession as a meteorologist to slip in dorky yet precious jokes, such as, "It's all barometric pressure anyways."
Most of the play was consumed by Hollywood ambition and teenage rebellion. George and Charlotte attempted to salvage their marriage while their daughter rejected the theater life for the advertising business. Moving at record speed, the plot allowed little time to wallow in pity for one character alone. Each befuddled player had his or her own problem to resolve.
Directed by theatre major, Brett Epstein '09, Moon Over Buffalo is a slapstick comedy about traveling actors who are presented with the opportunity for their big break. Described as "Scranton without the charm," Buffalo, N.Y. seems to be a dead end until famous film director, Frank Capra, shows interest in George (Marc Francis '10) and Charlotte Hay's (Amy Hogan '08) show. However, careers that once appeared quite put together seem to fall apart. George's affair with squeaky-voiced actress, Eileen (Lauren Walker '09), produced not just a slight rift in his marriage to Charlotte but also an illegitimate pregnancy with Eileen. Charlotte, originally played by Carol Burnett in 1995, eventually succumbed to her lustful agent, played by Alex Curran '10. The third love triangle involves their daughter, Roz (Talia Pinzari '10), who was leaving her clammy-handed new boyfriend, endearingly played by Peter Cunis '10, for an old, persistent flame, Paul (Stephen Orlando '10).
Each character was well-developed, with his or her own shtick to offer. For those who aren't the biggest readers and opt to let the King Lear jokes fly over their head, there was still a simpler humor. Cunis played the quickly-chucked boyfriend and utilized his profession as a meteorologist to slip in dorky yet precious jokes, such as, "It's all barometric pressure anyways."
Most of the play was consumed by Hollywood ambition and teenage rebellion. George and Charlotte attempted to salvage their marriage while their daughter rejected the theater life for the advertising business. Moving at record speed, the plot allowed little time to wallow in pity for one character alone. Each befuddled player had his or her own problem to resolve.