‘Moon’ Shines

The focus of Ken Ludwig’s “Moon Over Buffalo” is an aging theatrical couple, reduced to touring with a repertory company in “Private Lives” and “Cyrano de Bergerac” in 1953. It’s not as stylish as Ludwig’s more popular “Lend Me a Tenor,” but it still scores laughs as a very playable American farce.

Under Ken Rugg’s zippy direction, the play puts its best foot forward in a compact production now playing at Newport Theatre Arts Center in Newport Beach.

Details of the plot are minor. The acting couple, Charlotte and George Hay, are ambitious as ever, to the point of stepping on each other’s career. The couple’s daughter, ex-actress Rosalind, returns to the fold with her fiance, Howard, a TV weatherman.

At the same time, famed Hollywood director Frank Capra is supposed to be watching the couple in a matinee with an eye to having them replace Ronald Colman and Greer Garson in a film. Of course, everything goes wrong, relationships are bent out of shape, mistaken identity raises its giggling head, tactical aims misfire, and Murphy’s Law reigns supreme.

Like “Tenor,” and all comedies, its effect depends on the reality and sincerity of the production and its performances. For the most part, Rugg and his company are pretty good at it.

Where the production sags--which is Rugg’s fault for allowing it, and the actor’s for doing it--is in the performance of Davis Mejia as George Hay. Mejia is so far overboard most of the time that it is distracting. The audience laughs at the script and not the performance, and Mejia compounds the mistake in the lengthy scenes of George’s inebriate wandering, playing a burlesque drunk made even worse by the silly gimmicks of having a shirttail out, a mis-buttoned shirt and a suspender on the wrong shoulder.

Linda VanDine shines as George’s wife, Charlotte, scoring with her comedic restraint, honesty and realistic approach. Where Mejia relies on pratfalls and mugging, VanDine uses characterization.

*

As Charlotte’s beleaguered and sharp-tongued mother, Ethel--the sort of role Thelma Ritter used to revel in--Leslie Holland is properly distracted, cynical and funny. As daughter Rosalind and Howard, Sophie Areno (alternating with Deborah Garrett) and Shawn Berry (alternating with Jack Millis) fill fairly thankless roles with charm and humor.

Walter DuRant stands out for his reality and sincerity as Paul, the actor Rosalind deserted when she deserted the stage. Carolyn Fears walks through the small role of Miss Eileen, the bimbo actress George has been indiscreet with, as does Mark Herron as the couple’s attorney, bent on stealing Charlotte from George.

* “Moon Over Buffalo,” Newport Theatre Arts Center, 2501 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Through Oct 10. $13. (949) 631-0288. Running time: 2 hours.

Davis Mejia: George Hay

Linda VanDine: Charlotte Hay

Leslie Holland: Ethel

Sophie Areno: Rosalind

Shawn Berry: Howard

Walter DuRant: Paul

Carolyn Fears: Miss Eileen

Mark Herron: Richard

A Newport Theatre Arts Center production of Ken Ludwig’s comedy. Producer: Jerry Nininger. Director: Ken Rugg. Scenic/lighting design: Corey B. Holst. Costume design: Michael Pacciorini. Stage manager: Bea Morrow.