Audience Head Over Heels for 'Moon Over Buffalo"

After over 300 Broadway performances, Ken Ludwig’s “Moon Over Buffalo” made its way to the University of Mary Washington’s Klein Theater, which opened to a full house last Thursday, Feb. 16.
Witty, fast-paced dialogue set the stage for this play. The jokes and innuendos came so quick and often that there was hardly time to laugh in-between each one.

Students sang high praise after the first show.

“I thought it was hysterical,” said junior Nicole Cerniglia. “They had a lot of energy onstage.”

The 1950s feel jumped right out when Charlotte Hay (senior Carly Maalouf) put on her teal and purple pant-suit, complete with a cape and a Cruella Deville-esque black-and-white hairstyle.

George Hay (junior Rob Jones) got a good laugh out of the audience as he drunkenly caused disaster after disaster for himself and his fellow actors. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, Grandma Ethel (junior Karen DeVigili) unknowingly gave the already inebriated George more spiked coffee.

“The humor was spot on,” said junior Kimmi Lane. This show made it easy to laugh at awkward situations like meeting the in-laws, secret love affairs and mixed-up romances.

When the curtain came up, audience members were awed by the detail and realism of the set.

Shirin Afsous, a senior, said, “It was very professional looking. You could tell a lot of hard work went into making it.”

Preparations for the stage scenery began in December.

The sea foam green set was decorated with repertory show posters and a wall of fame housing pictures of old and new actors and actresses. Another scene takes place on a beautiful portico with a brick building that dropped down magically before everyone’s eyes.

The play is great for a laugh, but if you are looking for a profound script then you’re barking up the wrong tree.

“I like that the show was just a fun little farce. It’s nice not to have to think every now and then,” Christina Portman, of Fredericksburg, said.

The play is a great end to a long week of classes and work; no brainpower needed.

Overall “Moon Over Buffalo” is full of talent and fun. You will be missing out if you don’t go see this comedy.

There are four performances left: Feb. 23-25 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $4 for Mary Washington students and can be purchased at the box office in duPont Hall. For more information call the Klein Theatre Box Office at (540) 654-1111.

Image courtesy of Geoff Greene