In the playbill, director Ryan Hallahan immediately establishes that the play is more than a comedy-it's a farce. "Rumors" fly when Charley and Myra Brock invite their close friends to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. When Charley shoots himself through the ear and Myra goes missing, however, the guests become entangled in a web of lies, misconceptions and phone cords. Rumors not only about the unseen Brocks, but also the other married couples, underlie this piece and threaten the reputations of the play's high-profile male characters. Miscommunication regarding these rumors, among other things, is key to the humor at the core of this play.
Simon's quick-witted writing sets up a series of laughs throughout the work, but it's up to the director and the actors to deliver these jokes effectively. Although the production was quite funny overall, the creative team regrettably did not push the farce to its full potential. Ricki Naft, in the role of Cookie, was ridiculous (though not exactly funny) with her over-the-top behavior, hideous dress and complete ignorance of her absurdity. Her performance, though, was incongruous with the rest of the production and consequently diminished.
Still, the talented and experienced cast prevailed. Despite some serious whiplash, John Forbes shined as Lenny Ganz. Culling laughs all the while, he played the gamut of emotions-from frustration with an unyielding bag of snacks to despair after hearing about Charley's bullet wound. Forbes ultimately climaxed with a fantastic monologue that effortlessly weaved an incredible tale.
The rest of the male ensemble, including Mikey Paolini (as Ken Gorman), Brian Kelly (Ernie Cusack), Jeffrey Mehlman (Glenn Cooper) and Greg Blackburn (Officer Welch) portrayed their respective characters well, each with his own quirks. While most of the female characters seemed one-dimensional and, at times, inconsistent, Kristi Barron distinguished herself as a fine Cassie Cooper. The jealous, crystal-rubbing wife of a young politician, Cassie acts as a much-needed strong, female character in this play where men call the shots.
As for the technical aspects of the show, the set, lighting and costumes were fairly straightforward and appropriate. The living room set, for instance, accommodated the dialogue and stage directions with plenty of exits and entrances, allowing for a fast-paced performance. The blocking and use of space were excellent; the sound effects, though, were a tad awkward.
Although "Rumors" could conceivably have been juicier, the UMTG's production was on the whole well done and enjoyable.