Neil Simon’s ‘Rumors’ on stage

By Pamela Dyer-Smith
Theatre Arts

Brandon Petrie and Moira Leslie star in “Rumors.”

It's party time at Charlie and Myra’s. Bring your own food. Bring your own drinks! Bring your own doctor! Somebody's bleeding in the bedroom, the cook is in Japan, the rest of the guests haven't a clue what's going on, and the police are bringing the party favors ... or at least those are the “Rumors!”

Performance dates are March 4-5 and 8-12 at 8 p.m. and March 6 at 2 p.m. in the John Wright Theatre.

In Neil Simon's popular farce four couples are at the town house of a deputy New York City mayor and his wife to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. The party never begins because the host has shot himself in the head (it’s only a flesh wound) and his wife is missing.  His lawyer’s cover-up gets progressively more difficult to sustain as the other guests arrive and nobody can remember who has been told what about whom.  Doors slam and hilarity abounds, as the couples get more and more crazed.

Thirty-five year Theatre Department veteran, Dr. Edward EmanuEl has assembled a strong cast consisting of Chris ( Karina Croskrey) and Ken Gorman (Adam McGee) a lawyer and his wife, Lenny (Brandon Petrie) and Claire (Jacquelyn Babb), Ganz, who arrive after denting up their new BMW, neurotic cooking channel buffs Ernie ( Roco Nan) and Cookie Vanessa Pereda) Cusak and arriving last and in need of counseling from Dr. Phil are Glen (James Hume) and Cassie (Moira Leslie) Cooper.

Sets are by Jeff Hunter, lighting by guest designer Jeffery Whitsett, costumes by Stephanie Bradshaw and sound design by Jose Garza.

Tickets are $7 for Fresno State students; $12 for Fresno State faculty/staff, seniors, members of the Alumni Association, and students at other schools; and $14 general admission.

For more information, call the Theatre Box Office at 8-2216. Purchase tickets on-line at http://www.csufresno.edu/Theatre