By Peter Kemp
Eltham Little Theatre’s production of ‘Moon Over Buffalo’
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 onstage harmony is compromised when George performs an off-stage infidelity, impregnating the company’s ingénue.
When Charlotte learns of this, she prepares to run away with the family lawyer, sending light-weight 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 and worse… or his Elyot Chase smoking jacket? With the entrance of Rosalind’s dance, 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 theatre.
Season: 2 – 17 September
The Basin Theatre presents ‘Gentlemen Incorporated’
A slightly risqué Australian comedy by Deborah Mulhall and directed by Julie Cunningham
Damien is a male escort who runs a rather successful business that caters to wealthy and successful women.
When his old friend Marc returns from backpacking around Europe, Damien talks him into ‘helping’ with an over-tight schedule. But unbeknownst to Marc and Damien, Marc’s mother Elinor is one of Damien’s clients. So is his girlfriend’s boss.
Season: Thursday 6 October – Sunday 16 October. Bookings: 1300 784 668
