By JERRY HERTENSTEIN

Staff Writer

WARREN — Timing is essential to theater comedy.

Miss a cue, miss a laugh.

On cue for miscues is what makes the comical farce “Moon Over Buffalo” at the Pulse Opera House succeed.

And succeed it does thanks to timely directing by Cynthia Smyth-Wartzok and progressive acting of Huntington’s Travis Fisher that is never out of step.

Granted, Scott Nedberg as George Hay is principal player in playwright Ken Ludwig’s farce about mistaken identities, a clear lack of timing and missed opportunities.

But without the intricate weaving of Fisher in his role as Paul this presentation could fall flat.

Fisher keeps things moving in a production that builds to a rollicking, hilarious second scene in the second act.

Paul is manager of a repertory company in rehearsal at the Erlanger Theatre in Buffalo, N.Y. for “Cyrano de Bergerac” and “Private Lives.”

He is also cast off ex-lover of Rosalind who at play’s beginning has a new beau, the naive yet charming weatherman Howard. Jennifer Poiry plays Rosalind (Roz) and Mark Esch is Howard.

Rita D. Hecht is Charlotte Hay, an actress married to George Hay, Courtney Elmore is whiny bimbo Eileen who is pregnant thanks to George, and Kerry Arnold plays Richard, a lawyer for the theater company and love interest of Charlotte.

And there is Linda Willard as the nearly deaf Ethel, mother of Charlotte. Ethel’s mistakenly thinking she has heard lemonade instead of hearing aid in lines spoken by Roz near play’s beginning is a subtle early sign of the farcical fun ahead.

Doors, as typical of farce, are also key to making the play work.

At times, there is so much coming and going in and out of five on stage doors that just who is who is difficult to track without a scorecard.

Hecht and Nedberg have the necessary stage chemistry for playing the leading couple and their on again, off again love-hate relationship.

Nedberg, who last summer portrayed the pivotal sinister role of Moonface Martin in a Pulse staging of “Anything Goes,” is a delight as George Hay.

Nedberg has an uncanny ability to contort facial expressions needed to make his character believable.

George Hay is lovable despite his womanizing, boozing and ego driven nearly maniacal motivation for stardom.

Nedberg perfects the pratfall — in the play the fall is cushioned by a day bed — when playing a very drunk George.

Poiry stumbled over a few lines at a recent staging but was at her best during a hilarious balcony scene highlighting the pretentious Roz.

“Moon Over Buffalo” is pure fun.

“Moon Over Buffalo” plays at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and July 22 through 24 at Pulse Opera House, 127 1/2 Wayne St. Tickets are $8. Reservations at 219-375-7017 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.