"Moon Over Buffalo" - by Ken Ludwig - Square One Players (Shrewsbury, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of Ken Ludwig's "MOON OVER BUFFALO" presented by Square One Players in Shrewsbury, MA. through March 30, 2025. Photo Courtesy of Joanne Smith)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“The man is a walking ham. They should stick cloves in him and serve him with pineapple.”
- (“Ethel”) / Ken Ludwig
Square One Players
Presents Ken Ludwig's
"MOON OVER BUFFALO"
Written by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Jeremy Woloski
Stage Manager Marissa Hubbard
Cast Includes: Neal Martel as "George," Krissi Forgues as "Charlotte," Lindsey Campbell as "Roz," Chris Quigley as "Paul," Nicholas Magrey as "Howard," Abbie Levinson as "Eileen," Christine Crugnola Petruniw as "Ethel," Mikey Dearn as "Richard."
Additional Creative Team:
Production Manager - Joanne Smith; Assistant Production Manager - Tara Alano; Costumes - Angela Foley; Backstage Crew - Aleta Battista.
Performances:
March 22, 2025 through March 30, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Flanagan Theater, Southgate at Shrewsbury, 30 Julio Drive, Shrewsbury MA.
TICKETS:
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(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Square One Players offers up a fantastic farce with "MOON OVER BUFFALO," a hilarious backstage romp which will leave some in stitches…on stage and off.
There are many shows about theatre and backstage antics (“Kiss Me Kate,” “Noises Off,” “Play On!” etc.) but Ken Ludwig’s "MOON OVER BUFFALO" adds the element of family to it and the combination just goes to prove…one cannot be held responsible for their bloodline.
After a Boston tryout, "MOON OVER BUFFALO" made its Broadway debut in 1995, where it ran for 22 previews and 309 performances.
The original production would receive nominations for two Tony Awards.
(Photo: Neal Martel as "George" with Christine Crugnola Petruniw as "Ethel" in a scene from Ken Ludwig's "MOON OVER BUFFALO" presented by Square One Players in Shrewsbury, MA. through March 30, 2025. Photo Courtesy of Joanne Smith)
Ludwig’s script, much like his other shows “Lend Me a Tenor” and “Fox on the Fairway,” or like the best Neil Simon or Mel Brooks comedies, is most effective with immediate execution.
Such plays are just not as conducive to the more ‘thoughtful’ actor, i.e. the actor who must emote or take a lingering ‘beat’ to think of how best to respond before actually responding.
If an actor needs more than a millisecond to absorb what has been said or done before reacting or responding, then they are taking too long because Ludwig’s plot is like an express train that arrives then immediately moves onto its next destination.
Square One Players' director Jeremy Woloski has staged this production with the understanding of the above and that there are certain plays which are ‘rhythmic’ in structure.
The rhythm of these plays is such that you, as an actor, cannot “emote” or “linger” because the script will already be moving onto its next moment, leaving you stranded at the station.
Woloski obviously comprehends that there are far too many funny moments within the Ludwig play to allow this accelerated pacing to be decelerated.
Thankfully, Woloski’s Square One cast seems fully aware of the above and faithfully executes the text (perhaps a poor choice of wording as this particular story unfolds), resulting in many laughs from the audience.
(Photo: The CAST of Ken Ludwig's "MOON OVER BUFFALO" presented by Square One Players in Shrewsbury, MA. through March 30, 2025. Photo Courtesy of Joanne Smith)
As the play begins, we are transported back to 1953 to a small theatre located in Buffalo, New York.
It is never made clear if there is a FULL moon on this particular night but given the events about to happen, it certainly would feel appropriate.
George and Charlotte Hay (Neal Martel and Krissi Forgues) are a passionate but prickly ‘past-their-prime’ showbiz couple who manage a failing acting troupe.
The troupe is alternating performances between low-budget adaptations of Noel Coward’s “Private Lives” and Edmond Rostand's “Cyrano de Bergerac.”
Just why these two particular and unrelated shows are being performed “in tandem” is never made clear.
Charlotte is ready to divorce George over his dalliance with troupe member Eileen (Abbie Levinson).
Levinson is funny as the distraught Eileen, yet the character is not on stage long enough for the subplot to allow for any true development of her character.
Charlotte, meanwhile, is involved in a dalliance of her own with suave lawyer Richard (Mikey Dearn).
Dearn performs well as Richard but, similar to Levinson’s “Eileen,” is barely onstage enough for much development.
This liability does not fall on the shoulders of the actors but squarely on Ludwig’s script.
(Photo: Lindsey Campbell as "Roz," with Chris Quigley as "Paul" in a scene from Ken Ludwig's "MOON OVER BUFFALO" presented by Square One Players in Shrewsbury, MA. through March 30, 2025. Photo Courtesy of Joanne Smith)
Charlotte learns that famous Oscar-winning director Frank Capra is seeking a replacement male lead for a film on which he was working with legendary actor Ronald Coleman, who has been injured on set.
Capra plans to see them perform in their show together (Which one? Good question.) and, if impressed, will cast George as Coleman’s replacement.
George, desperate to woo Charlotte back, convinces Charlotte that, if Capra casts him, he’ll insist she replaces Coleman’s co-star, Greer Garson.
George and Charlotte’s daughter Roz (Lindsey Campbell) has arrived to introduce them to her new fiancé, Howard (Nicholas Magrey), a mild-mannered television weatherman.
Campbell shines as Roz, which can be an unremarkable character as written, but Campbell is given moments to showcase a finely honed comedic ability (moreso during the show’s second act when Roz is thrust on stage as a last second replacement).
Magrey is wonderfully adept as nervous wreck fiancé Howard, who is mistaken by Charlotte for Capra.
Hilarity ensues as Howard also meets Roz’s ex-fiancé, Paul (Chris Quigley), a troupe performer who refuses to give up on Roz.
Quigley plays straight-laced Paul well as he tries to be a cooling presence for the hot-tempered Hays.
Yet, soon Quigley shows us just how skilled he can be at the show’s more arduous physical comedy, especially in moments opposite Martel as a boozed-up George.
George and Paul both mistake Howard for Eileen’s brother, who is out to kill George for getting Eileen pregnant.
Most of the plot’s ‘crossed wires’ occur as a result of Charlotte’s flighty mother, Ethel (Christine Crugnola Petruniw), who is prone to misunderstand even the simplest of instructions due to her failing hearing.
Petruniw hits every comedic beat, knowing just where to accentuate the sarcasm by hard-of-hearing Ethel who simply cannot stand George (with the feeling being mutual “by George”).
(Photo: Nicholas Magrey as "Howard" with Krissi Forgues as "Charlotte" in a scene from Ken Ludwig's "MOON OVER BUFFALO" presented by Square One Players in Shrewsbury, MA. through March 30, 2025. Photo Courtesy of Joanne Smith)
After a multitude of misunderstandings, ultimately the troupe’s performance riotously short circuits in a phenomenally bad way.
The overall success of "MOON OVER BUFFALO" hinges on the relationship between the main characters of George and Charlotte and, thankfully, it is in good hands here.
Forgues greatly impresses as Charlotte, who must contend with George’s antics, eccentricities and proclivities all throughout the show.
Similarly, Martel shines as George with impeccable timing. Martel is at his best during George’s more acrimonious spats with Ethel and amid a prolonged self-pitying drinking binge when he fears of losing Charlotte for good.
The single set of a backstage area is nicely detailed, featuring many working doors used for multiple entrances and exits onto the stage.
Costuming is quite appropriate for the 1950s time period and the two show's being presented "in tandem" by the fictitious troupe.
"MOON OVER BUFFALO" continues from Square One Players in Shrewsbury, MA. until March 30th, 2025 and this is one moon so full of laughter that you will not want it to pass you by.
Coming up next at Square One will be the iconic musical “A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM” beginning August 2nd, 2025.
For tickets and information, visit www.squareoneplayers.com.
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Approximately two hours with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
It is the summer of 1953, and George and Charlotte Hay, formerly a couple of Broadway stars, have taken their run-down touring company to Buffalo, New York.
In Buffalo they have the intention of running “Cyrano de Bergerac” and “Private Lives” in repertory, all the while grumbling about missed Hollywood opportunities.
But on-stage harmony is compromised when George performs an off-stage infidelity, impregnating the company’s ingenue.
When Charlotte learns of this, she prepares to run away with the family lawyer, sending lightweight George on a grief-stricken drinking binge.
It turns out that Frank Capra is headed to town on a talent scouting mission looking to hire the couple for his swashbuckling Scarlet Pimpernel epic.
As a result, the Hay family -- including scornful, deaf mother in law Ethel, determinedly practical daughter Rosalind, and dashing actor Paul, Rosalind’s ex-boyfriend -- must work overtime to get sloppy drunk George into his Cyrano hat and nose…. or is it his Elyot Chase smoking jacket?
With the entrance of Rosalind’s fiancé, anxious TV weatherman Howard -- one man with two mistaken identities -- and Richard Maynard, the wealthy lawyer hoping to lure Charlotte away to his mansion -- the confusion only intensifies.
With a plethora of pratfalls, slamming doors aplenty, and backstage shenanigans, Ken Ludwig’s "MOON OVER BUFFALO" is a fast-paced, hilarious screwball comedy in the old tradition, a throwback farce, a valentine to the stage, and the larger-than-life personalities that inhabit the world of the theatre! (STAGEAGENT)
ABOUT SQUARE ONE PLAYERS
SQUARE ONE PLAYERS mission is to provide a venue to promote and support the performing and cultural arts in Central Massachusetts. The goal of SQUARE ONE PLAYERS is to provide a quality and economical live theater program that is all inclusive and of course, have a little fun along the way. SQUARE ONE PLAYERS strives to open opportunities to anyone who wishes to participate in the art of theater. SQUARE ONE PLAYERS hopes that one and all will feel welcome to participate either by viewing or taking part in theater shows. Come join SQUARE ONE PLAYERS and be ready to be entertained!
