Swords and slapstick: Masquers makes magic with ‘Moon Over Buffalo’
REBECCA PETTINGILL | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 2 months AGO
George and Charlotte Hay, played by Christopher Longstreet and Melissa Sloan, fight with swords in “Moon Over Buffalo.”
Rebecca Pettingill/Columbia Basin Herald
Rosalind, right, practically has to yell for grandmother Eileen, left, to hear, while producer Paul watches in dismay.
From left, Miles Plagerman, Melissa Sloan and Cecily Hendricks practice a scene during their dress rehearsal on Oct. 14.
Christopher Longstreet holds a fake sword to Jesse Huntwork during dress rehearsals on Oct. 14.
SOAP LAKE — Masquers Theater is home to multiple productions a year, including a play full of adult comedy, pratfalls and confusion.
Director Nick Mahaney said the plays chosen in the past when he was directing would come from ideas he pitched, but this play was the suggestion of the artistic director. He said after looking into the play, he loved it.
Mahaney said he first started doing theater when he was 12 years old and directed for the first time when he was 18. Mahaney has directed three other plays at Masquers before this one.
The play, “Moon Over Buffalo,” is one of the most physical plays the theater has done in a long time, Mahaney said. By physical, he means there are a lot of things the actors are doing, such as pratfalls, falling up stairs and roughhousing.
“Moon Over Buffalo” was written by Ken Ludwig in 1995. The production is about two hours long and features eight actors. The press release by the theater’s spokesperson Darryl Pheasant describes the play as a fast-paced, hilarious, screwball comedy.
“Moon Over Buffalo’’ is set in the summer of 1953. George and Charlotte Hay, who used to be Broadway stars, have taken their run-down touring company to Buffalo, New York. In Buffalo, they have the intention of running two plays, all the while grumbling about missed Hollywood opportunities.
Very quickly things go awry when Charlotte learns George got company member Eileen pregnant. In response, Charlotte prepares to run away with the family lawyer, Richard. This sends George on a drinking binge. But before Charlotte can run away, it is discovered Hollywood director Frank Capra is headed to town on a talent scouting mission.
As a result, the Hay family must work overtime to get drunk George ready to perform. Throughout all that, more confusion arises when Rosalind’s fiancé, anxious TV weatherman Howard, has two separate mistaken identities.
The play opens today and runs through Nov. 7, on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. General admission is $16 and $14 for seniors. The play may not be suitable for young children due to adult themes. For tickets and information, visit masquers.com or call 509-246-2611.
The play was originally scheduled to debut Oct. 15, but was postponed a week later due to circumstances beyond the theater’s control, Mahaney said.
Rebecca Pettingill can be reached via email at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY REBECCA PETTINGILL
Ag issues on docket in 2023 Washington Legislature
OLYMPIA — The 2023 Washington Legislature session included bills to support agriculture. House Bill 1138, concerning drought preparedness, is one piece of that legislation. “We’ve been working on that for two to three years,” said Rep. Tom Dent, a sponsor of the bill. “So we get into a drought in different areas of the state and the drought committee comes together and puts together a plan to help people in the drought-affected area to mitigate the effects of the drought, whether it means through use of emergency wells, financial assistance, (or other measures).” HB 1138, requested by the Department of Ecology, adjusts the circumstances in which the Drought Committee is authorized to convene. The bill amends these circumstances to include when a drought advisory is in effect and when a drought emergency order is in effect.
Legislators request millions in infrastructure funding for Adams Co.
RITZVILLE – Adams County looks to have millions of dollars in federal funds for infrastructure projects approved by Congress through requests by regional legislators. “We are grateful to all the members of our Congressional delegation, each of whom has stepped up to assist with vitally important infrastructure projects for our region,” said Dan Blankenship, Adams County Commissioner... .
Dent proud of committee’s bipartisan effort in 2023 session
MOSES LAKE – Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, said that there is a lot he has to be proud of from this session, but the thing he was most proud of was the bipartisan effort to tackle bills by him and several other lawmakers. “I think, for me, there were a lot of wins,” said Dent. “The kind of wins that you don’t see.”