Theatre Review: Rumors
The Jackson Theatre Guild is kicking off this spring with Neil Simon’s farcical play Rumors this weekend at The Ned. Rumors is crammed with two hours of mass chaos, assumptions, misunderstandings, and (of course) rumors.
The play opens as Ken and Chris Gorman (played by Kyle Williams and Caitlin Kent) arrive at their friends’ Charlie and Myra Brock’s house to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. But everything is amiss. Myra and the house staff are nowhere to be found, the meal isn’t cooked, and Charlie has survived a gunshot to his head. It appears as though he has attempted suicide, so they decide to cover for him by creating elaborate stories and diversions as the other dinner guests arrive.
They arrive two by two. First, Lenny and Claire Ganz (played by Jeff Howell and Kara Dukes), then Ernie and Cookie Cusack (played by Adam Foote and Melissa Roberts), and finally Glenn and Cassie Cooper (played by Billy Worboys and Beth Gobbell). Each doorbell brings a heaping dose of suspense, quirks, and personal drama. As each couple wonders where the host and hostess are, no one can remember to tell the same lie twice.
The set served as a beautiful backdrop to place the characters in the living room of a well-to-do New York home. It did not distract from the main characters, who all remain on stage the majority of the play. The comedy of the play relies on impeccable timing which all of the main characters perform well. The script, especially in the first half, is fast-paced, and each actor fed off the energy of the next.
The lines are quick and witty. A few zingers include: “We didn’t come here to live longer. We came here to have a good time,” “It would be nice to be the way we were before we became the way we are,” and “He’s running for State Senate? I wouldn’t let him run for Chinese food!”
Rumors runs April 6-9. Tickets can be purchased online, at Carriage House Antique Market, or at King Jewelers.
After graduating from Union University, Renae Adelsberger and her husband Kevin decided to make Jackson their home due to their love for their church, nonprofits, local businesses, and abundance of Sonic drive-ins. You can read more from Renae at www.pedestriangod.com.
Photographer Kevin Adelsberger and his wife Renae moved to Jackson for college (proud Union alumni) and have stayed every since. Jackson has since taken hold of Kevin’s heart, and he looks forward to continuing to grow with the city. Kevin opened Adelsberger Marketing in 2014 and saw working with Our Jackson Home as a way that he could serve the city he loves. Kevin and Renae are members of First Baptist Church and volunteer with the youth group there and with Madison County CASA.
