NATCHEZ — Backstage doesn’t look much different from onstage in Natchez Little Theatre’s production of “Moon Over Buffalo” which opens Thursday. The play-within-a-play takes place in the green room of a theater, giving audiences some insight into the behind-the-scenes chaos.

“This is supposed to represent the green room,” said director Don Vesterse, pointing to the set that he designed and built. “The green walls do help.”

Vesterse said the show features much humor and much door-slamming.

“I hope they will be rolling in the audience,” he said. “Timing and energy are what actually make this play extra funny because of the delivery of the lines and the in and out of the doors. I think the audience will really like it a lot.”

The show revolves around George and Charlotte Hay, two married actors currently performing in Buffalo, N.Y. The two disagree about whether film or theatre is better, and when George is presented with an opportunity for both of them to star in a film, Charlotte refuses to believe him, as she has just found out George had an affair with one of their fellow actors. So Charlotte leaves George, then George disappears, and then someone ends up very drunk, adding more comedy to the crazy green room scene.

Bo Allen, who plays the role of George, has the same hopes as Vesterse for their audiences.

“I really hope they leave the show feeling refreshed and with their gut hurting from laughing so hard,” he said. “And due to all the recent events and the news being turned to the tragedy that happened in Tuscon, I hope people can come here and get their minds off things and just enjoy.”

Allen, who studied theater at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., said he has been acting at NLT for a little more than a year. He has wanted to work with Vesterse for a while, he said, calling him a great adviser for theater.

Debbie Boykin, who has the same regard for Vesterse, plays a 72-year-old grandma. “Of course the grandma is a little outrageous… and she’s very deaf,” Vesterse said.

When Vesterse called Boykin to play the 72-year-old, the 54-year-old Boykin was hesitant.

“At first I was confused,” Boykin said. “I thought, ‘That’s not going to work.’ And then I said, ‘Don knows best. He knows what he’s doing.’ He could see what I couldn’t see. All I could see was me being my age. He said, ‘No, no, no, you’ll be great.’”

“And I got a wonderful old lady,” Vesterse said.

Leigh Anne Mason, who plays George and Charlotte’s daughter Rosalind, said she loves the camaraderie of the show’s small cast and enjoys working with Vesterse. This is approximately Mason’s 15th show at NLT, and Vesterse gave Mason her second role and her first lead.

“He takes time to see the little things that make the difference between a good scene and a great scene,” she said.

Other members of the cast include Bennie Boone, who plays Charlotte; Derrick Garrity, who plays Howard; Arden McMillin, who plays Paul; and Wade Heatherly, who plays Richard.

The show runs Thursday through Sunday. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Shows are at Natchez Little Theatre at 319 Linton Ave. at the intersection with Maple Street. Tickets are $15. Call the theater to reserve tickets at 601-442-2233 or purchase them online at www.natcheztheatre.org.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, NLT will present a benefit preview performance as a fundraiser for the Historic Natchez Foundation and the Natchez Downtown Development Association. Tickets for this show are $10. Proceeds will go to the two organizations.