Theatre Palisades regularly draws from a wide pool of talented actors living throughout Southern California, but with the new production of ‘Moon Over Buffalo,’ casting came about closer to home. Two Palisadians’Martha Hunter and Julia Whitcombe’ star in this comedy directed by Sherman Wayne and produced by Pat Perkins. The play centers on George (Jack Coppock) and Charlotte Hay (Martha Hunter), fading stars of repertory theater in 1950’s Buffalo. The couple have just lost their last chance at stardom’leads in a Frank Capra movie. To make matters worse, their agent is smitten with Charlotte and the company ingenue is pregnant by George. Add to the mix an almost deaf grandmother/costume mistress (Julia Whitcombe’s part) and a forgetful weatherman/fianc’ and the plot thickens. When the agent calls to say Frank Capra will be attending the matinee, George is missing and the company can’t figure out which play they are supposed to be performing, ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ or ‘Private Lives.’ Misunderstandings, misplaced affections and missing persons work together to hilarious effect. This is Martha Hunter’s second appearance on the Theatre Palisades’ stage. Last fall, she was a force in another farce, playing the real inspector in ‘Inspecting Carol,’ also directed by Sherman Wayne. Hunter brings to the role of Charlotte a lifetime of acting experience, beginning with skits and later musicals at Brentwood Presbyterian Church as a child. ‘I remember doing ‘The Boyfriend’ and singing a duet with Dick Van Dyke.’ While living in Malibu for 15 years, Hunter was active in Malibu Summerstage. All the while, she worked regularly in commercials, TV and film, including a supporting role in the movie ‘Something’s Gotta Give.’ Hunter moved to the Palisades eight years ago. Acting is truly all in the family, with both of her daughters studying drama, one as a graduate student in London and the other as a junior at Northwestern University. Hunter laughingly describes her husband, Craig, as involved in a different kind of dramatic art: the law. Hunter is thrilled to have landed parts at Theatre Palisades, and relishes the community flavor the venue offers. ‘It shows there’s support and talent right here in the Palisades,’ says Hunter, referring not only to herself, but also to fellow actor Julia Whitcombe, who plays her mother in the production, and to three Corpus Christi eighth graders who are assisting with costumes and props. Whitcombe’s long affiliation with Theatre Palisades began in the mid-1970s. Over the years, she’s garnered eight ‘Best Actress’ awards with the organization. She cites Eleanor in ‘Lion in Winter’ and Sister Mary in ‘Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You’ as her most memorable roles. ‘Moon Over Buffalo’ represents her 18th appearance on the Theatre Palisades stage. ‘Oh, look, oh, look, there’s an old lady part,’ Whitcombe jokes about her excitement to learn of the grandmother part in ‘Moon Over Buffalo.’ Whitcombe and her husband, John’who divide their time between living in the Palisades and Rifle, Colorado’have longstanding involvement with Theatre Palisades. After retiring as a chemical engineer, John supervised the construction of the theater in the early 1980s and Julia has served the company in various capacities for over two decades. Whitcomb’s other passion is her ongoing work recording textbooks for the blind. ‘You use lots of the same skills as being an actor,’ she comments. ‘Moon Over Buffalo’also stars actors Jack Coppock, Meredith Dinneen, Matt Landig, Holly Sidell, Warren Steinman, and Larry Sutton. The play opens on Friday, April 1 and continues through May 8 at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. Performances run Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Ticket prices range from $9 to $15. Contact: 822-0463 or 567-9995.
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