It’s like three plays in one, with a madcap two-shows-within-a-show premise.
BrightSide Theatre’s production of “Moon Over Buffalo” takes the stage March 10 to March 26 at The Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth Ave. in Naperville.
“It is a fun physical farce with all the theatrical fixin’s — sword fights, falls, colorful costumes, colorful characters and slamming doors a plenty,” Director Aaron Henrickson said.
Set in 1953, the classic comedy features a traveling theater company on its last legs, led by an aging leading man and woman. The company is performing both Noel Coward’s “Private Lives” and Edmond Rostand’s “Cyrano de Bergerac” at a repertory theater in Buffalo, N.Y. Faced with an unexpected last shot at stardom, the ensemble scrambles to showcase their best while somehow self-destructing in the process.
“If there is a moral to this show, I like to think of it as ‘when life hands you lemons, don’t spill the lemonade,'” Henrickson said. “But of course, since it’s a farce, these characters spill everything every chance they get.”
A cast of eight local professional actors will bring to life the show biz romp, which was penned by Ken Ludwig and debuted on Broadway in 1995.
“The cast for this show has been fantastic,” Henrickson said. “I’m very excited by the character choices we have made when presenting these silly people, and I am confident you will never see another production of this show quite like ours.”
Of course, creating silliness is not so simple.
“This show has a little bit of everything and a ton to juggle for the actors — fights, falls, costume changes, dialects — so the biggest challenge has been attacking all of those elements and keeping all of the plates spinning,” Henrickson said. “This is more of the actors’ challenge than mine, and they have more than risen to the occasion making for a hilarious and colorful experience.”
“Moon Over Buffalo” rises March 10 to March 26 at The Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall. Shows are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $27 for adults and $24 for students and seniors.
During “Moon’s” run and also at The Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, BrightSide Theatre simultaneously is producing “Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr.,” featuring young local actors. Directed by Jeffrey Cass, that show runs March 11 to March 19, with performances 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to brightsidetheatre.com or call 630-447-8497.
Jen Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
‘Moon Over Buffalo’
When: March 10 to March 26
Where: The Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville
Tickets: $24 to $27
Information: 630-447-8497; www.brightsidetheatre.com
