Rumors: Show Review

February 24th through 27th, with a total of 4 shows, Central’s Drama Club put on the comedy play Rumors, written by Neil Simon in 1989.

Rumors, set in 1990 Snedens Landing, New York, revolves around deception, secrets, and lies; it's a story based on literal rumors. Our two main characters, married couple Ken and Chris Gorman, played by Central’s Samuel Ryan and Cecil Bell + Kate Roth, are the first to arrive at their friend’s Charlie and Myra Brock’s (who we never see, and only hear from once, offstage) 10th anniversary party, where the entirety of the play takes place. Ken and Chris arrive just after hearing shots to find Charlie in his room, ear bleeding, and Myra, nowhere to be found. This leaves the two lawyers to come up with a story as to why Charlie and Myra can’t make an appearance at their own party. The ball is set in motion, as the two are continually lying to the new guests by trying to create a convincing story, which the characters can’t help but blurt out to the others at rather inconvenient times. Not only that but the characters, who have called a doctor in fear of their friend and another guest’s health, have to juggle their ever changing story and intercepting phone calls. The climax of the play happens towards the end when the cops are called regarding a stolen vehicle, the same which previously hit guest Lenny, who was involved in the doctor phone tag shenanigans. The two police officers enter the house and the characters have to come up with yet another version of the story, as main character Ken Gorman has recently gone deaf, from yet another gunshot. Misidentification, chicken dances and inspired story telling ensue.

Central’s Drama club truly delivered the essence of this play with their witty and well timed lines, well developed and relatable character relationships, and beautifully crafted set and costumes. To help bring their characters to life and give them more of a story, Director LaDonna Wilson gave each actor a secret that their character is keeping. This was a brilliant decision that gave characters more depth and helped actors develop their stories.

However, the making of this production was not without its challenges; the lack of a theater at Central, many unplanned snow days, and negotiating a schedule with Centennial in order to use their auditorium to rehearse.

Like many things recently, the pandemic created another set of obstacles. So, auditions were held this year via Flipgrid. Auditionees were asked to submit a section of the script that included their character. Kate Roth, one of two actors who played leading lady Chris Gorman, said that there are both pros and cons to both in person and virtual auditions. “For an in person audition, you know, you’ve done it and you're done. But, that also means that you don’t really get much of a choice in what you show. For a virtual audition you can take as many recordings as you want, but that can also be very difficult because you never know when to stop,” said Roth.

The unfortunate timing of Midwest weather, among other things, caused the show to be postponed by 2 weeks. The set was put together in a single weekend, according to Wade Schacht, who played the hot-tempered Lenny Ganz. “It was pretty crazy…it was tough”, said Schacht. Despite the short time frame, the set came together and really helped to set the tone of luxury, while still keeping it simple in order to let the characters fill the space.

While the neutral walls with pretty art and the elegant blue furniture, borrowed from a member of tech’s grandmother, helped to create the environment, it was truly the actors who brought this story to life.

When asked how she got into character, Isabel Curtis, who played the ditzy and doting Cookie Cusack, said “I try to relate to my character in certain ways. The rest was the relationship. I mimicked the relationship that I see my mom and my dad have.” Curtis said she drew inspiration for her relationship to character Ernie Cusack, played by Abigail Elibracht, from TV couples as well. Curtis also took parts of herself that she saw in Cookie to over exaggerate and play into while on stage. “You’re not the character, the character is you,” said Curtis.

Luke Storsved, however, who played politician Glenn Cooper, said he didn’t draw inspiration from real life people, but rather another character. “I kinda took some inspiration from Two-Face in Batman. He starts out as the district attorney for Gotham. He's the only non-corrupt politician, and so his dynamic with his fiance before that is what I took inspiration from." Although Storsved says he doesn’t relate to his character, he does relate to the secret his character was given. Glenn Cooper’s wife Cassie (played by Rachel Gillett) often accuses Glenn of cheating throughout the play. Although Glenn isn’t cheating, he is insecure in his relationship with his wife and is scared of losing her. Storsved said “that is kinda something that I relate to."

Ainsely Holland, who plays the dramatic and sassy Claire Ganz, said, “I go online and watch different people act, and I kinda combine their and my interpretations of the character." Holland noted that Director Wilson helped her a lot with how to say certain lines. Holland also said that “I feel like when I’m in stressful situations I react like she does” (referring to Claire Ganz, her character). “She’s a sassy version of me in like 20 years."

All of the time and thought put into these characters was well spent. I was so engrossed in the story and the lives and personalities of each character that when the play ended I found myself looking for the next episode button. I wanted to go up to the characters and shake them when they did something that was bound to make the situation go south, more than it already was. The witty lines and comedic timing was so brilliantly delivered, I, along with the rest of the audience, lol-ed for the majority of the play. I was so impressed with this play, along with the hard work of the actors and the tech and stage crew, the costumes, the lights, and the artwork.

If you too want to be a part of something so spectacular as this, Curtis stated, “if you have the slightest interest in theatre, we welcome you." You can follow the drama club on Instagram @maroonsdrama. Or, if the nosebleeds are more your style, you can watch the next show, Mama Mia March 31- April 3.