Theater Review: 'Moon Over Buffalo'

A farce without substance is like a tree without roots.

Yet those are abundant. A farce on the rarer side now inhabits the Lonny Chapman Theatre and is produced by The Group Repertory in the NoHo Arts District through June 24.

It is Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo and it tickles the funny bone to the nth degree.

It is the story of a struggling theatrical family that tries to keep its company alive by performing "hack versions of popular theater classics." When the actors find themselves in Buffalo unable to meet payroll and the announcement that the legendary film director Frank Capra is coming to check out the company is made, all hell breaks loose.

The depth here resides beneath the surface in characters that are frustrated with their lot in life yet not trapped by it.

Ludwig brings great hope to this endeavor and a fighting spirit exemplified in the amount of romance and laughter on stage.

The commitment to their art the characters make can also not be overlooked.

Ludwig depicts the truth in an exaggerated manner. He shows the circumstances to the extreme, and how people change according to those circumstances.

In her directorial debut, Drina Durazo keeps the action moving and the chemistry between the characters intense. The motivation the characters have to better their lives is strong.

The only problem is that the action in the first act is sometimes hard to follow.

Chris Winfield (George Hay) is the play. He leads the cast from beginning to end, and does a near-perfect job. His performance is neither easy nor forgettable.

Gwen Van Dam (Ethel) has the right mix of sarcasm and wit, but can sometimes not be heard very well.

Kent Butler (Richard Hay) is deeply convincing and moving.

Suzy London (Charlotte Hay) is believable and passionate.

Allison King (Rosalind Hay) is easy to watch and a promising find.

Derek Mehn (Paul) has a stage presence hard not to follow.

Ben Campbell (Howard) has comic timing that runs like a watch.

Jennifer Ross (Eileen) possesses a vulnerability that suits her character.

Angela M. Eads (Costume Designer), Steve Shaw (Sound Design), Jazmin Lopez (Lighting Design) and Winfield (Scenic Design) help make the play better.

Overall, this "Moon" shines brightly not because of the lack of humanity, but because it does not surrender to that solution.

Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm

Sunday Matinee at 2pm

Talkback after Sunday Matinee May 20

Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601

Tickets: $15-$22

Reservations: (818) 763-5990

one intermission