Welcome to Rumors

The cast for Theater Bartlesville’s opening show of the 2003-2004 season “Rumors” has been selected by Director Judy McGlasson. The roles of Lenny and Claire Ganz will be played by real life husband and wife, Steve and Barbara Martin; Ken and Chris Gorman will be played by Wes Ramsey and Frankie Wood; Ernie and Cookie Cusack by Brad McCammon and Victoria Goff; Glenn and Cassie Cooper will be played by Eric Strimple and Christine Conner; and Officer Welch and Officer Pudney by Charlotte Smith and Denise Jarmola.

After a string of serious autobiographical plays in the 1980’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs,”, “Biloxi Blues” and “Broadway Bound”, playwright Neil Simon went back to a lighter mood with “Rumors.” The farce was a box office smash when it opened at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City in 1988.

The plot builds to an event creating a domino effect of one disaster after another, Usually, Simon sticks to middleclass territory. Instead, “Rumors” opens at the upper class home of Mayor Charlie Brock and his wife Myra, who are celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary by inviting four couples over for dinner. They have a weird way to celebrate; the mayor has accidentally shot himself in the earlobe, his wife is missing and there is no food prepared.

Fearing a scandal, the Gormans, being the 1st to arrive and Ken Gorman being Brock’s attorney, try to ‘coverup’ what has happened. As each invited couple arrives, they are told different stories about what has happened to the mayor.

In the 2nd act, everyone now knows what has happened, but how do they explain it all to the police, who are coming to the house. A convoluted monologue by one of the guests, who is impersonating the mayor, ‘explains’ everything.

Irvine World News states: “by the fifth line, everyone is off and running. It’s like the Marx Brothers meets Neil Simon. A hiliarous comedy in 2 acts!!!

The performance dates are September 5, 6, 12, and 13 at 8:00pm and 2 Sunday matinees, September 7 and 14., at 2:00pm. Tickets are on sale now at the Theater Bartlesville Facility, 312 S. Dewey, 10:00-4:00 Monday through Friday. Ticket prices are $6.00 for Theater members and students and $10.00 regular ticket price. For ticket availability, call 336-1900. No reservations are made, due to limited seating.

“We encourage everyone to purchase tickets early as we sell out quickly and the past season, we unfortunately had to turn people away,” states Judy McGlasson, Executive Director.