Hopewell presents ‘Moon Over Buffalo’

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Playwright Ken Ludwig’s madcap comedy tradition of “Lend Me a Tenor” continues in “Moon Over Buffalo,” which opens Friday at the Hopewell Theatre, 702 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown, for a two-weekend run.

Directing is Regina Reynolds-Stevens, assisted by stage manager Marlene Menaldi Strollo. Performance dates and times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Sept. 7 and 8; and 2 p.m. Sept. 9.

“Moon Over Buffalo” centers on two fading stars of the 1950s, George and Charlotte Hay (played by Carl Brockway and Linda McGrath).

As the play opens, they’re playing in “Private Lives” and “Cyrano De Bergerac,” in repertory theater in Buffalo, NY, with uncertainty about which play they’re actually performing.

On the brink of a disastrous split-up caused by George’s dalliance with Eileen (Lindie Schwarten), a young ingenue, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom — director Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee.

Unfortunately for George and Charlotte, everything that could go wrong does go wrong, abetted by Charlotte’s hard of hearing mother, Ethel (JoAnne Santagata) and a visit from their daughter’s clueless fiance, Howard (Spencer Humphreys).

Playing daughter Roz is Teresa Evans. Josh Bodnar portrays Paul, the company manager, while C. Richard Haldi plays Richard the lawyer to the stars, and Marisa Keshock plays a soldier.

Tickets are $13 ($10 for senior citizens and students). For reservations, go to hopewllthetare.org or call 330-746-5455.

A special group rate of $8 per person is available for groups of 10 or more.