Cast members rehearse a scene in “Moon Over Buffalo,” the spring show for Our Town Players. The Franklin-based troupe will stage the performance this weekend and April 28-30.
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With one last chance to turn around their flagging careers, the stars of “Moon Over Buffalo” have one chance left to impress.
Frank Capra, the legendary filmmaker behind such classics as “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” is coming to town to see their production. So everything has to be perfect.
Of course, that means that anything that could go wrong does.
“There are cases of mistaken identity, there’s some slapstick,” said Ryan Thompson, director of the show. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Madcap fun surrounds the most recent production from Our Town Players, as they present “Moon Over Buffalo.” The show, which opened on Broadway in the 1990s, comes to Johnson County and brings together a talented cast and crew.
The play opens Friday at the Active Adult Center in Franklin. Showtimes will be 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, April 28 and 29, with 2:30 p.m. matinee shows on Sunday and April 30.
“People can expect a funny play and a good time. People are really going to enjoy themselves laughing,” Thompson said. “And the cast is so good. They’re a small group, but they’ve put together a really, really outstanding production. Everyone is going to be really impressed by what a good production it is.”
“Moon Over Buffalo” takes much of its beats from comedies such as “Lend Me A Tenor.” The story follows George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s who have been relegated to doing repertory theater in the frigid town of Buffalo, New York.
Their personal lives aren’t faring much better than their professional ones — George’s dalliance with a young actress has the couple on the verge of splitting up.
That’s when they get word that Capra is making the trip to see their matinee. If they impress, the couple will be cast in the remake of “The Scarlet Pimpernel.”
What follows is a cascading series of mishaps that gives the play its frantic energy.
This is the first play directed by Thompson for Our Town Players, the community theater troupe, supported through Franklin Parks and Recreation, which has presented live theater to the public since the 1990s.
Thompson has directed shows such as “Noises Off” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” for community theater in Hendricks County in the past, and having recently moved to Franklin, he was excited to take part in the tradition established by Our Town Players.
The opportunity to present such a fun story for audiences has been a joy, he said.
“I’ve been really, really excited to work with this group. We have a really neat group of returning cast members, in addition to another person who is also brand new to Franklin,” he said. “They’re a really talented group of people who are really funny.”
Tickets are $8 in advance at Franklin Parks and Recreation, 396 Branigin Blvd., Franklin, or through a cast member. Admission is $10 at the door, cash only. Due to adult situations and language, the performance is recommended for ages 13 and over.
