Move Over Artemis II! They’re Walking on the Moon at Burlington County Footlighters

by Deitra Oliver

Burlington County Footlighters 2nd Stage theater is bringing the hilarious satire of Jason Milligan’s Walking on the Moon to life this week in Cinnaminson. The show debuted in 1995, and I am so glad I was able to see this specific iteration, directed masterfully by Kevin Esmond. Walking on the Moon tells the story of Chad Williams, a former astronaut who walked on the moon. Kind of a big deal. Unfortunately for Chad, his accomplishment is overshadowed by his ill-timed hit-and-run accident. After hitting his friend and fellow astronaut with a lunar rover and leaving him in a lifelong coma, Chad is persona non grata with NASA. The promises of sponsorships and brand deals disappear as he returns to Earth in infamy. The play finds Chad many years beyond that fateful journey to the moon, but still struggling with its implications. He is a D-list celebrity, commercial actor, and brand ambassador for a second-hand (unbeknownst to its patrons) carpet store. One night, Chad has an encounter that presents him with the opportunity to redeem himself and possibly make lots of money. Unfortunately, nothing in this life comes for free, and Chad goes on a wild goose chase that winds up with him in court, facing serious charges.

The 2nd Stage is a black box theater and, by its nature, very small. I wasn’t aware of the location until I arrived, so I was a little surprised. Upon entering the space, you are greeted with a seating area in the center of the theater. There are about 40 seats, and behind them is a mural of the moon. I must say, the seating for me was not very comfortable. You are very close to the people next to you, behind you, and in front of you. As a larger-bodied person, I did feel squished in. The seating did have somewhat of a rake, but unless you were in the front two rows, it was challenging to see what was happening on stage. The program does note that taller patrons should kindly consider sitting in the back row, and I wish people had followed that note. I would also recommend bringing a seat cushion. These issues did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying the show at all. I share for anyone who cares about seats as much as I do. 

The beauty of black box theater shows is that they are more intimate and often bring the audience into the show. They are a place where the crew and cast get to stretch their creativity and ingenuity. Led by Director Kevin Esmond and Stage Manager Allison Adams, I have to say this was one of the most fun and innovative shows I have seen in a long time. One of the most exciting aspects of the show involved seating, despite my earlier comments. The seating unit rotated around the theater and moved fluidly to each set, powered by the crew: Paul Esmond, Anastasia Ramsdell, and April Wang. I was very impressed with this aspect, as well as the details of each setting. Jim Frazer was responsible for the set and lighting design in this show, and I have to say it was immaculate. From the opening party scene, you are immediately drawn into the story. Lighting was used to effectively set the scene, from the intimacy of a dinner to the bright fluorescent lights of a courtroom. Sound also played a huge role in creating a fully immersive experience. The sounds of a party, restaurant, or ambulance made me feel like I was someplace other than the theater. Allison Adams headed the sound and props design, and I was impressed by the attention to detail. The era-specific costuming by Katie Cwirko transported me into the decades represented, ranging from the ’70s to the ’90s. Partnered with hair and wigs by Valerie Brothers, there was no question about where you were. I loved the changes in the characters in each period. The passage of time was shown through their clothing choices and hairstyles, believably and, in some cases, hilariously. This production team worked together well to transform the small black box space into a variety of different settings and did so smoothly and effectively.

This is a dark satirical comedy, so it takes a specific skill set as an actor to be able to deliver it. Casting in the show was top-notch, with most actors playing multiple roles throughout. Daniel Brothers was perfectly cast as the ever-reaching and ever-bumbling Ex-Astronaut Chad Williams. His deadpan delivery and underlying emotion made him sympathetic and enjoyable to watch. His relationship with his wife Maureen, played by Lisa Croce, helped to humanize him and really show his journey. Croce was a wonderful foil to Brothers and really delivered the weight of a spouse dealing with a partner’s spiraling descent. Sarah Dorsey as Kimberly was fun to watch and had great comedic timing. I really enjoyed her interactions with her father, Arthur, played by David Pallas. When you picture a low-budget Hollywood agent and his assistant/daughter, these are the people you might imagine. Pallas fully embodied the sliminess and blatant disregard for humanity found in Hollywood, while Dorsey presented a bit of an ingénue, rebellious spirit that, by the end, was transformed into a mirror of her father. The final cast member playing only one role was Valerie Brothers as Nadine Scott, the frustrated, drunken, and hilarious wife of the comatose astronaut Tom Scott. This was truly a show-stealing role, and it was fun to watch Brothers drunkenly flounce around the stage. Her testimony in the trial was a shining moment.

As I mentioned earlier, several of the cast members played multiple roles throughout the show. It always impresses me when actors are able to transform and truly present unique and defined characters multiple times in one show, and this cast was able to do just that. I had to read the program to confirm people were the characters I thought they were. Sean Magee played Party Guest #1, Producer, Judge, and Camera Crew. His judge had me cracking up with how unserious he was about the actual trial. Kori Rife shone as Party Guest #2 and Doctor Ellie Henry. Her flip from incredulous to fame-seeking as the doctor was wonderful. I’ll definitely call 1-800-Coma-Toe if I’m ever in a coma! Matthew Becker pulled double duty as Party Guest #3 and Ben Freeman. Call Ben Freeman, and you will be a Free Man. Becker was amazing as the trickster lawyer. Carlos Gonzalez-Najera delivered pure comedy as Reggie, Detective #1, and Myron Cassnoff. From selling rugs, to wearing rugs, to tossing distractions out on the stand, Gonzalez-Najera was a joy to watch. Meghan Wilson expertly played Louella, Detective #2, and the District Attorney. She was one of the chameleons on stage who had me trying to determine if Louella and the DA were the same person or not. Rounding out the cast is Stephen Kreal, who played Earl, Bailiff, and Camera Crew. Kreal’s commitment to each role was fun to watch, especially his close-talking, space-invading, kind of creepy convict, Earl.

Walking on the Moon at 2nd Stage at the Burlington County Footlighters is a comedic tour de force. I highly recommend taking a journey on the rover and getting tickets. [https://tickets.bcfootlighters.com/](https://tickets.bcfootlighters.com/)