Scandalous humor and mysterious fun will have audiences laughing at Crawfordsville High School as the theater department brings “Rumors,” to the stage today through Sunday.
The Neil Simon play is somewhat of a dark comedy. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Connie L. Meek auditorium. Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $6 for students. All tickets are online presale only. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/68856.
The production opens at a large, tastefully appointed Sneden’s Landing townhouse, where the deputy mayor of New York has just shot himself. Though it’s only a flesh wound, Charlie Brock’s self-inflicted injury sets off a series of events causing four couples to experience a severe attack of farce.
As their 10th wedding anniversary party commences, Charlie lies bleeding in another room, and his wife Myra (Chloee Bean) is nowhere in sight. Chris Gorman (Sophie Tomlinson) and their lawyer, Ken Gorman (Thomas Bowling), scramble to get “the story” straight before the other guests arrive. As the confusions and miscommunications mount, the evening spins off into classic farcical hilarity.
Rounding out the cast are Lenny Ganz (Hutton Haas), Claire Ganz (Haley Eads), Ernie Cusack (Brenden Warren), Cookie Cusack (Zoe Abbott), Glenn Cooper (Nivek Witt), Cassie Cooper (Cimbria Bowling), Officer Welch (Zari Freeze), Officer Pudney (Jacob Burke), Officer Flick (Collin Simpson) and Dispatch (Mikaylin Figg).
Thomas Bowling, who is no stranger to the stage, said he is excited to be a part something that is trending up.
“Lisa (Warren) has been doing an awesome job building this into something that people will love to watch and love to be a part of,” he said.
Tomlinson has participated in past musicals, but had not done a play.
“I decided to try something new, and I really liked the play when I did research on it before auditions,” she said.
She said the most challenging part for her was auditioning.
“I have never done a play, nor had a lead role, so I was very nervous,” Tomlinson said. “When I saw the cast list I was very excited and proud of myself.”
Haas is excited to play a character similar to his own personality and welcomed the challenge of learning and pacing himself through a three-page monlogue.
While, Eads has enjoyed the laughs cast members have shared while watching
others being directed in and embracing the true character behind their roles.
“Each role has some easily identifiable characteristic to them that makes the character who they are, no matter how strange or extra it may seem,” she said. “Watching this moment come to life was truly amusing and enjoyable to be a part of.”
Like Haas, Abbott decided to participate because she saw the role of Cookie and immediately connected with her character.
“I love being the comedic-relief, and Cookie is very much one of them,” Abbott said.
On the other hand, Witt, who is playing Glenn Cooper, said his character is very different, including his tone of voice, mannerisms and even the way his character is intended to sit on furniture.
“So being able to portray such a different type of person has been an amazing experience,” he said.
