For Immediate Release
Crespi Carmelite High School
5031 Alonzo Ave.
Encino, CA 91316
Contact: Paul V. Rawate
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Phone: 818-654-1328
Cell: 818-462-1708
With the close of the Crespi Carmelite Players’ production of “Moon Over Buffalo,” Crespi Drama proves once again that it is becoming one of the Valley’s most eminent drama programs.
“‘Moon Over Buffalo’ is a very fast-paced show, challenging the actors to keep the stakes high for their characters without overacting,” said Peter Jeensalute, Crespi’s new drama teacher and director for this year’s fall production. The Players did not disappoint. Both casts displayed an incredible amount of energy, propelling the fast-moving comedy forward and avoiding the tedious and mechanical recitations to which so many high school productions fall prey.
Not only did the cast keep the energy high, but they controlled and directed it with expert timing, melding frantic dialogue with madcap physical stunts in order to turn the play into the hilarious whirlwind of confused characters that the play was meant to be.
The only significant dilemma the play faced was the set. Due to time constraints, the construction of the set was only one level. Originally, “Moon Over Buffalo” was performed on a raised stage in order to emphasize the play-within-a-play aspect of the piece. Because the performances were so well done, only Act III’s balcony scene required a little imagination by the audience. The audience had to suspend their disbelief as George fell about foot and a half into an “orchestra pit.”
Nonetheless, the Crespi Carmelite Players’ superior acting not only raised the stakes for their characters, but also raised the stakes for high school drama in the Valley.