by Shane Kelley
Neil Simon's Rumors is a farce based on the absurdities of some not-so-sophisticated urban professionals who, when faced with unexpected events, quickly revert to their neurotic, insecure selves. A master at finding humour in human weaknesses, Simon shows how easily things get blown out of proportion when emotions run wild.
A gunshot greets the first guests arriving for a formal dinner party celebrating the hosts' wedding anniversary. Guests Chris and Ken Gorman, (Christine Davet and Charles Raywood), both lawyers, force their way into the house to find hostess Myra and the 'help', missing and their city councillor host Charlie bleeding and unconscious on his bedroom floor.
Preoccupied with avoiding scandal, Chris and Ken fabricate outrageous stories to hide Charlie's apparent suicide attempt from the other equally neurotic, insecure guests as they arrive. Before long, everybody is in on the coverup and trying to figure out how to keep the events secret from the media and police.
Andrew Johnston is hilarious as hyper-accountant Lenny Ganz, who arrives holding his neck from an accident involving his new BMW. Lenny's ditzy wife Claire, played well by Debbie Wrenshall, arrives giggling and more concerned with the other women's dresses than her husband's whiplash.
Though suffering from continuous back spasms, TV Chef Cookie Cusak (a hilariously suffering Susan Bain) and her clueless psychologist husband Ernie (charismatic new talent Steve Eastman) decide they will rescue dinner, only to have Ernie burn all his fingers.
Ambitious politician Glenn Cooper (the ever expressive and funny Dave Fisher) and his sexy wife Cassie (played perfectly by Karen Burgan), arrive in the midst of a marital spat which soon progresses to a wrestling match over Cassie's obsession with her precious crystal. In revenge, Cassie decides to throw herself at the other men as everyone tries to ignore her.
At the height of the frenzy of lies and pathetic coverups, one's mind spins trying to remember who is who and what's going on until the events are brought to an even more ridiculous head by the arrival of police officer Welch, (Brooklyn native Joe Dineen) and his sidekick Officer Pudney (cartoon-funny Christine McCaffrey).
This show is a benefit, with everyone involved generously donating more than 250 hours of time and talent, but the production is as professional as it comes. Lenny's storytelling monologue at the end of the second act is a comedic highlight. Charles Raywood had me laughing throughout the show with his "rubber face" and talent for physical comedy. Christine Davet made me want to find her some tranquilizers with her cigarette-withdrawal induced shakes and hysteria over the situation.
Robin Brain's stage setting was one of the best I've seen at the Hudson Village Theatre, with furniture donated by Luxe rentals.
Directed by Irene Arseneault and stage managed by Heather Bowser, with lighting by Gordon McVicar and costumes by Karen Pearce, Rumors is one of those don't-miss productions. I loved every minute of this show as did my 18 and 21 year old sons and their dates. See http://www.villagetheatre.ca/ for times and dates.