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Rumors

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  5w, 5m

Neil Simon

When they gather to celebrate a tenth wedding anniversary, four New York power couples experience a severe attack of Farce.

Rumors

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w, 5m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Farce
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior

Details

Summary

At a large, tastefully-appointed Sneden's Landing townhouse, 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 tenth wedding anniversary party commences, Charlie lies bleeding in another room, and his wife Myra is nowhere in sight. The first guests, lawyer Ken Gorman and his wife Chris, 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.

History
After premiering at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego on September 22, 1988, Rumors made its Broadway debut at the Broadhurst Theatre on November 17, 1988. Directed by Gene Saks, the production featured Christine Baranski, Ken Howard, Ron Leibman, Joyce Van Patten and Jessica Walter.
Keywords
Performing Groups
KEN GORMAN – (40) A well-to-do lawyer. Wealthy, but by no means pretentious. Takes charge of the situation. Married to Chris. Halfway through the show, a gunshot causes his temporary deafness. 
 
CHRIS GORMAN – (mid-30’s) Another lawyer, married to Ken. Beautiful, easily flustered. Frantically tries to maintain normalcy at the party. Has recently quit smoking, which drives her to drink a bit more. 
 
LENNY GANZ – (Late 30’s, early 40’s) A wealthy accountant, distraught over the recent destruction of his new car. Starts the show with an extreme case of whiplash. Intolerant of the gossipy lifestyle that he is often involved in. 
 
CLAIRE GANZ – (Late 30’s) Lenny’s wife. Very concerned with appearances (hers and others’). Starts the play with a swollen lip. Likes to gossip. 
 
ERNIE CUSACK – (Early 50’s) A psychiatrist. Affable, smokes a pipe. Loves his wife very much. Tries to be as helpful as possible cooking the evening’s dinner. 
 
COOKIE CUSACK – (40’s) Has her own cooking show. Suffers from extreme back spasms. Loves her husband very much. A bit absent-minded at times. 
 
GLENN COOPER – (30-40) A handsome man running for State Senate. Worried about his own reputation. Struggles with placating his wife, who is convinced he is having an affair (which he may or may not be). 
 
CASSIE COOPER – (late 20’s, early 30’s) Glenn’s beautiful wife. Obsesses over her husband's relationships with other women. Quick to anger. Must rub her quartz crystal to calm herself down. 
 
OFFICER WELCH (M) – (30-50) A city police officer having a rough night. Does not tolerate lying. Sees through the “classy” façade that these high-society types put up. 
 
OFFICER PUDNEY (F) – (20-30) Welch’s partner. A strong but silent type.
  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Setting A house in Sneden's Landing, New York. An evening in June.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol
    • Gun Shots
    • Strong Language

Media

“Not only side splitting, but front and back splitting.” – NBC-TV

“Has nothing on its mind except making the audience laugh.” – The New York Times, Read More

“Light, frothy and fun.” – New York Post

“Neil Simon makes people laugh a lot!” – USA Today

“Not only side splitting, but front and back splitting.” – NBC-TV

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $130 per performance
  • Mandatory Music/Media Fee: $15 per performance

Scripts

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Authors

Neil Simon

Neil Simon

American playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon (1927-2018) is widely regarded as one of the most successful, prolific and performed playwrights in theatre history. In addition to Lost In Yonkers, which won a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize, his plays and musicals include Come ...

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