Theatre Northeast will present the ?laugh-a-minute? farce†Rumors†by Neil Simon, at the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts on the Northeast Texas Community College campus, April 24, 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. and April 27 at 2:05 p.m.
One of Neil Simon?s most popular comedies,†Rumors†takes place in the posh suburban residence of New York?s Deputy Mayor, Charley Brock who, at the beginning of the play, is lying off-stage with a bullet hole in his earlobe. This puts a slight crimp in the plans for the 10th wedding anniversary party for himself and his equally absent wife, Myra. As the guests arrive, each couple tries to keep each new arrival from finding out about Charley?s possible suicide attempt. The confusion is not helped by the plethora of rumors about Charley, Myra and most of the guests.
Rumors†opened on Broadway in 1988 to rave reviews and ran for 535 performances. Clive Barnes, drama critic for†New York Post†wrote: ?Broadway has something to cheer about again. This maze of mendacity is light, frothy and fun!?
Featured in the production are Nick Derby of Mount Pleasant as Lenny, a short-tempered accountant with a whiplash injury; Ariah Burkhalter of Mount Pleasant as Claire, Lenny?s acid-tongued wife; Kathryn Comer of Omaha as Chris, a tense publishing lawyer who†really†needs a cigarette; Jordan Chambers of Mount Pleasant as Chris?s husband Ken, Charley?s lawyer who is determined to protect him at all costs. John Chambers of Mount Pleasant plays Ernie, a laid-back psychologist, with Lauren Shortnacy of Mount Pleasant as his appropriately-named wife, Cookie; Dylan Schlosser of Mount Pleasant as a pompous state senatorial candidate Glenn and Haley Guest of Daingerfield and Marcy Logan of Omaha as his wife Cassie, who might be charitably described as high-maintenance.†Police Officer Welch, Corin Carter of Gilmer and Officer Pudney, Shelby Gilmore of Gilmer; along with the missing wife, Myra, played by Lilith Penn of Sulphur Springs round out the cast.
Tickets are $10 for Adults, $7 for age 17 and under, $5 for NTCC Faculty, Staff and Sr. Citizens. NTCC students are free with a current ID. Reservations are not required.†Rumors†contains mature subject matter and is not recommended for children.
