Coming soon: Neil Simon's 'Rumors'

Philip Shore

For the Randolph Hub

ASHEBORO – Psst! The rumor is that RSVP Community Theatre will present Rumors, a farce by Neil Simon, at the Sunset Theatre Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 3-5. I hear it is a fast-moving compilation of misunderstandings intended to provoke deep mirth, but that’s just what I hear.

The whole thing is a farce. The nature of farce is speed. Speed eliminates inconsistencies and reason in order to advance a plot that tears along with humor and observation to keep an audience so busy laughing they don’t have time to parse or quibble. Or breathe.

Rumors is late Simon but not final Simon. Of the 30 plays he wrote, this one clocks in at No. 23. It was on Broadway for 535 performances in 1988-90. Simon’s was an illustrious career that has affected almost anyone you know through stage, television, movies. His jokes are good and they hit what they aim at.

RSVP actors, it may be truthfully observed, are diligent farceurs. I cite as evidence even the recent The Music Man, along with Clue and You Make My Frame Shake. And the company, in a larger way, is re-solidifying. These last few years have played slice and dice with community activities and organizations. You may note that a core of actors is evolving to bring the company forward. This is a very fine thing.

Rumors is directed by Jeremy Skidmore, Executive Director of RhinoLeap Productions. A thorough professional, Jeremy plots the moves of the actors with panache and verve. The show moves in a deceptively simple fashion, as simple as a conversation. But the simplest things often turn out to be the most complex.  

Assisting Jeremy as Stage Manager is Jordan Willis, who has been active with RSVP as an actress for a number of seasons. Jordan will be directing the upcoming RSVP production of Play On! By Rick Abbot — more about that in the near future. Sitting in the SM chair is good prep for that effort.

The cast is excited. They are proud of their show. The structure of the piece is that five couples interact and re-act inventively to a dire and not completely explained situation. Cast members uniformly enjoy the physical comedy that Mr. Skidmore puts them through. They conga, they crawl, they stretch credulity to the breaking point.

Chris Scott and Kira Geiger play Ken and Chris Gorman. Mr. Scott expresses his interest in theatre as a life-long curiosity. “I’m the oldest with the least experience,” told me. He is fully into the spirit of the production. “My only regret is that I don’t get to watch it.” Kira is new to RSVP but not to RhinoLeap, to wit, Pride and Prejudice this past summer. Her professional résumé includes a BFA from NC School of the Arts in TV, film and stage work. Among other available interests and assets she lists kickboxing, juggling and triathlon. Although her character in this play is elegance itself to look at, stress begins to trump dress. Some of that physical training will stand her in good stead.

Aubri Henley and Philip Schuyler play Claire and Lenny Ganz. Aubri was most recently seen in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Rumors is her second RSVP show. Her Claire is a bit of a sharp-tongued gossip. Her humor is in the lines not so much the physical stuff. She thinks the play is “Hilarious.”  Lenny Ganz, says Philip, is a tax guy. All of these characters, politicians, lawyers, chefs, tax guys, well-to-do as they may be, make up things on the fly to disguise what they know and don’t know. The result is an outlandish outpouring of truth variants. Philip teaches at Randolph Early College. He has enjoyed his experiences with RSVP most notably as a salesman in Music Man and Frame Shake.

Elijah LaPrise and Alisa Smith McNeill are Ernie and Cookie Cusack. They perhaps represent the best marriage relationship in the play. Ernie is a psychologist and Cookie is a TV chef. Elijah is a technician with Pye Barker Fire and Safety and a very active participant with RSVP (Clue, Merry Wives to name a couple). He says, “Working on this has been a trip. There hasn’t been a time I haven’t left rehearsal smiling — that’s what we’re offering our audiences as well.” Alisa is a bit of everything with the group and has been for some years. She works in the food service industry as a designer. Alisa told me that instead of straight one-liners, the script presents small puzzles in the dialogue which are then resolved. The small sections build to big laughs.  

John Halsey and Alicia Kellum play Glenn and Cassie Cooper. Glenn is a politician running for state Senate. (Cassie treats the adjective “state” as if it is very much a diminutive.) He is a glad-hander; she is a woman scorned. This is a potent mix. John told me that the audience knows more than the characters do. He regards the structure of the show as slick and quick. The audience takes a smooth ride through the two acts not subdivided into scenes. Alicia’s character feels left out of her husband’s life. She describes her “Cassie” as insecure and vain.

The remaining two characters are not a wedded couple but, nonetheless, joint operators; they are police officers who call at the apartment to investigate an accident. Officer Welch is portrayed by Joel McClosky; Officer Pudney, by Lauren Wood. They are uniformed cops who ask questions about one thing while being answered about what is uppermost in the minds of the witnesses, which is two separate, often wrong, things. Joel opined that a play is much the better for being performed by people you know. Lauren sees her character as one being trained by her partner.

The show rocks along on whole mistakes and half information with the enviable aim of giving the audience an evening of high-quality hijinx.

Tickets can be had in three different ways:

— At the door. Adults $17; Children, Seniors, Military $12.

— Or in person at Brightside Gallery, 170 Worth Street, Asheboro 27203 by cash or card. No additional fees. 

— Or at https://tickettailor.com/events/rsvpcommunitytheatre. Fees added.

Questions about the show? Call 336-736-8714. Young children may not find the greatest interest.

About RSVP

Take a look at www.rsvptheatre.org for a historical look at shows from the past as well as current information. Likewise, there’s a lot to see on Facebook at RSVP Community Theatre. RSVP began as Randolph Summer Vacation Playhouse through Randolph County Schools and developed into a standalone organization that has served the county community for almost 40 years. The invitation to participate stands wide open for audiences and actors alike: You have a part with RSVP.