On the last Saturday night in May, I found myself at a table in a renovated theater with 3 High School seniors, all of whom were two weeks away from graduating, two of whom were about to go to college in pursuit of theater degrees, one setting off for a liberal arts degree, all of whom were excited about the show we were about to see. The room was packed, and it occurred to me in these troubled times it felt like we all really needed to be there; sitting in that space together; anticipating sharing an experience- together
As the final production in Ridgefield Theater Barn’s milestone 60th season, Moon Over Buffalo closed the year with a burst of energy, slapstick, and classic theatrical chaos. Written by Ken Ludwig, the play is a fast-paced farce set in 1953 Buffalo, New York, where aging theater stars George and Charlotte Hay struggle to keep their careers afloat amidst personal drama and professional disasters. When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity from Hollywood comes knocking, mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and backstage bedlam threaten to upend everything.
Director Diana Canova keeps the pace brisk and the comedic timing tight—both essential in a show where doors slam as often as punchlines land. Her direction maintains the play’s farcical rhythm without losing the emotional stakes at its core. The result is a show that’s as heartfelt as it is hilarious, and is a lively, well-executed homage to the madness of live theater.
At the center of the mayhem are Gillian Holt and Fred Rueck as Charlotte and George Hay, a pair of fading stage actors still clinging to the spotlight. Holt’s Charlotte is sharp, commanding, and full of theatrical flair, playing beautifully off Rueck’s bombastic and increasingly unhinged George. Their chemistry is palpable and delightfully combustible, anchoring the show’s chaos in a believable (if exaggerated) love-hate partnership.
Elayne Gordon delivers standout comedic timing as Ethel, Charlotte’s nearly deaf mother, whose misheard lines were consistent crowd-pleasers. Julia Preis brings warmth and wit to Rosalind, the Hays’ daughter trying to distance herself from the family business, while still seeing both her parents in her, Cooper Smithers (Howard) was hilarious as the nervous fiancée of Rosalind coming to meet the well-known parents. His timing and earnest smile had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. Matt Donovan is a charmingly earnest Paul, grounding the action with sincerity and looking like he could be coming out of a door on “I Love Lucy” at any moment. Timothy Huber (Richard) acted s the perfect stalwart of the “other option” in life, bringing us in to his love for Charlotte and ultimately his pathos when confronted with the enormity of the soul of an Actor. Clara Sussman rounds out the cast as Eileen with the right balance of vulnerability and mischief and comedic timing.
Claudia Noel Nerreau’s set design is both functional and visually engaging, with multiple entrances and exits that support the frantic movement demanded by the script. The backstage setting—a theatrical green room and performance space—is rendered with just the right level of lived-in realism.
Nerreau’s costumes are equally effective, evoking the period with style while adding to the characters’ eccentricities. From George’s swashbuckling Cyrano costume to Charlotte’s glamorous stage attire, each look serves both character and comedy.
Mark Hanla’s lighting design subtly underscores scene transitions and helps accentuate the moments of dramatic irony and physical comedy. It never calls attention to itself, but its precision helps keep the farce flowing smoothly.
Remaining performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM through June 21st, with Sunday matinees on June 8 and 15 at 5:00 PM. The Ridgefield Theater Barn is located at 37 Halpin Lane, Ridgefield, CT 06877. Tickets are $30, available at www.ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org. Seating is cabaret-style, and audience members are encouraged to bring their own food and drinks. Doors open one hour prior to curtain. All sales are final.
Moon Over Buffalo is a smart, crowd-pleasing farce, with very few moments from the time the lights go up, where someone, if not all of the audience are laughing — expertly staged, sharply performed, and the perfect finale to a remarkable season. Don’t miss this laugh-out-loud gem.
Photo: Timothy Huber - Richard, Matt Donovan - Paul, Gillian Holt- Charlotte, Julia Preis- Rosalind, Elayne Gordan-Ethel.