author: Rick Bergmann
Comic Chaos at its Finest: Moon Over Buffalo at MAD
There are certain classics in community theatre that, when done well, always bring joy to the stage. Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo is one of them. This fast-paced comedy follows fading stage couple George and Charlotte Hay as they perform repertory theater in Buffalo while desperately hoping for a big Hollywood break. When they learn that a famous director might attend their show, everything that can go wrong—missed cues, mistaken identities, and too much alcohol—does. The result is a chaotic, door-slamming farce about ambition, ego, and the unpredictable magic of live theater.
MAD’s production, directed by Randy Barth, is a delight from start to finish. With an outstanding cast and precisely choreographed chaos, the show never loses its footing—a testament to Barth’s steady hand with farce. It’s a night of rapid-fire wit and perfectly timed comedy that you don’t want to miss.
With any piece of theater, the cast is the key, and that is certainly the case here. Barth has assembled a fantastic ensemble that doesn’t miss a beat. Their timing and chemistry are phenomenal. Jon Gardner and Jill Goodrich, as George and Charlotte, are pure magic. They are both hilarious without ever falling into parody, while also showing the deep love between these two. You get the sense they have been through a lot, and even though George frustrates Charlotte, she never stops loving him.
In any good farce, there is always a love triangle, and here it centers on Katie Frye’s Rosalind, the Hays’ daughter, James Pildis’s Howard, her fiancé, and Courtney McIntosh’s Paul, her ex-boyfriend and the company manager. These three are uproarious on stage. McIntosh’s Paul is constantly tasked with cleaning up the chaos, and he has serious comic chops—you feel his mounting hysteria throughout. Pildis is excellent as the nervous fiancé in awe of Rosalind’s “famous” parents. It’s easy to see why both men are drawn to Frye’s Rosalind. While she initially appears somewhat conservative, once she is pulled back into her parents’ chaotic world, she proves she can hold her own and is far less buttoned-up than she first appears.
The supporting roles are equally strong. Bob Singer plays Richard, George and Charlotte’s lawyer who is hopelessly in love with Charlotte, bringing warmth and humor to the role. Makkie McNea is delightful as Eileen, the company’s ingénue with a secret of her own. She’s sweet, a little dim, and McNea hits all the right notes. And then there is the secret weapon of the production: Joanne Breen as Charlotte’s mother, Ethel. Breen is hysterical, delivering her acid-tongued lines with razor-sharp timing and earning some of the biggest laughs of the night.
On a technical level, the production is top notch. Barth deftly manages the demands of farce—multiple doors, physical comedy, and rapid pacing—while always allowing his actors to shine. Breen also serves as costume designer, and her work beautifully captures the period. The green room set is richly detailed and feels like a fully realized world rather than simply a backdrop. In a clever touch, the stage-right wall folds in and becomes the stage for the company’s performances. Eliot Malumuth’s lighting and Marc Lichtman’s sound design help complete the illusion, supporting the action without ever distracting from it. It all comes together in a fantastic, hilarious package.
If you are looking to escape for a few hours and simply laugh, I highly recommend Moon Over Buffalo. It’s a wonderful night at the theater.
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission
Moon Over Buffalo plays through April 25th 2026 with MAD (Goddard’s Music and Drama Club) at the NASA GSFC Barney and Bea Recreation Center of the Goddard Space Flight Center— 9998 Good Luck Road in Glenn Dale, MD. Tickets are only available for purchase in advance online. Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors/military and $12 for children/students/interns. The show is preceded by a short cabaret— Wrong Turn, Right Song.
