THEATER PREVIEW:Ludwig’s ‘Moon’ rises over Golden West

Ask any knowledgeable theatergoer what playwright has been most represented on local stages in, say, the last 10 years, and the answer probably would be either Neil Simon or William Shakespeare.

Suggest that it might be a fellow named Ken Ludwig and you’d probably be greeted with a blank stare. Yet, Ludwig has indeed been making more audiences chuckle than any other scrivener during the recent period.

And, you might add, Ludwig has been accomplishing this feat with basically two plays, “Lend Me a Tenor” and “Moon Over Buffalo.” A third, “Twentieth Century,” was produced a few seasons ago in Newport Beach.

Most local theater groups have mounted one or both “Tenor” or “Buffalo” in the recent past, and Golden West College, having scored with “Tenor” a few years ago, now is preparing to spring “Moon Over Buffalo” on its audiences next weekend.

Ludwig’s primary forte is show business — but it’s the showbiz of a half century ago, played in the provinces. “Tenor” is set in Cleveland and “Moon,” quite naturally, in Buffalo. “Twentieth Century” transpires aboard a moving train.

“Moon Over Buffalo,” which starred Carol Burnett when it ran on Broadway in 1995, is set in a regional theater in the western New York City, circa 1953. The comedy, director Tom Amen predicts, “is sure to leave audiences in stitches.”

“The play centers around a husband-and-wife acting duo in the brink of success, disaster and divorce,” Amen explains. “When Hollywood director Frank Capra loses the stars of his latest picture, he rushes to Buffalo to catch George and Charlotte in their current repertory productions of ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ and ‘Private Lives.’

“Unfortunately, Capra’s timing couldn’t be worse as misunderstandings, mistaken identities and theatrical mayhem ensue.”

The cast of the Golden West production includes David Chorley, Lynn Gallagher, Barrie Lindberg, Ray Lynch, Jack Roberts, Shirley Romano, Michelle Terrill and Tony Torrico.

Performances of “Moon Over Buffalo” will be given for two weekends, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., through July 15 in the college’s Mainstage Theater.

Tickets are $12 and $10 and may be reserved by calling the box office at (714) 895-8150 or visiting www.gwctheater.com.