Actors hit their comic marks in 'Rumors'

Spread the word—Agoura High School puts on funny plays.

Last week the talented student actors presented a sidesplitting production of Neil Simon's "Rumors."

Simon is best known for his character-driven comedies about New Yorkers who gain personal insight while snapping out witty one-liners. While the script of "Rumors" needs a few more slamming doors and titillation to qualify as a farce, and it lacks the depth of character and a substantial plot to rate as one of Simon's better efforts, it's a highly entertaining show, full of laughs. The entire cast and crew put their hearts and best efforts into it.

Elizabeth Brasler directed the show at a fever pitch, with the actors hardly taking a breath between lines. The energy level stays high, and the show doesn't bog down for a minute.

Some roles were double cast. This review looks at the actors in the Wednesday/Friday cast.

The setting: the home of Charlie and Myra Brock in an uppermiddle class neighborhood in New York City. The occasion: The Brocks' 10th wedding anniversary party. The first guests to arrive, Ken (Patrick Rosenberg) and Chris (Bailey Thompson), discover that Myra is missing, the household help is gone, the party food is unprepared and Charlie is bleeding from a bullet wound in his earlobe—and he's too woozy to explain what happened.

While Ken and Chris attempt to figure things out, Lenny (Jake Shillan) and Claire (Christine Huddleston) show up. Len's brandnew BMW was wrecked on the way.

Ken attempts to give Charlie first aid while the other three share the gossip buzzing through their tennis club—either Charlie or Myra is having a fling, depending on which rumor one believes. But if the marriage is over, why didn't the couple cancel the party?

When Ernie (Robert Mahoney) and Cookie (Carlin Canter) arrive, the others fumble around with plausible explanations about the absence of the hosts. Cookie suffers from back spasms; Len's whiplash causes him to stare at the ceiling while he's talking, and Ken goes deaf from a loud noise.

To add to the madness, Glenn (Duke Roberts) and Cassie (Lida Darmian) arrive. He's running for Senate (state Senate, his wife ruefully reminds him, in freezing cold Albany) and can't afford any scandal. Cassie accuses him with rumors she's heard about Glenn and one of his campaign workers. She takes comfort with her 2,000yearold psychic crystal—until the stone falls down the toilet.

The police (Cheyenne Grogan and Matthew Oster) arrive, and the four couples are frantic to explain the bizarre situation.

The play's a satire on the pampered life of the rich and could easily be set in Southern California, with the characters' preoccupation with their luxury cars, New Age ideas, social status and reliance on hired help.

Rosenberg is neurotic and jumpy, a fine foil for Thompson who can top him in a shouting match. Shillan is nicely flustered over his beloved car and funny as he handles the "whiplash." Huddleston is the quintessential "new rich" matron who loves hearing and spreading gossip.

Mahoney is the nice guy who plays along with the goofiness, and Canter does some broad physical comedy with her persistent back pains. Roberts is believable as the local celebrity who puts more effort into his campaign than into building his marriage. And the way Darmian waves about her crystal and soaks up its "powers" is priceless.

Grogan and Oster, the police officers, are small in size, but they act with authority. The role of Welch was written for a man, but Grogan stomps around plenty, and she's mighty tough.

The only shortcoming is that Welch's lines were not changed for a female. Another character calls Welch a "man" and Grogan says, "I love my wife, too," which might make sense if the play was set in Massachusetts but is otherwise confusing. This reviewer has seen another production of "Rumor" with a female Welch in which the gender-related words were revised.

But it's a minor note in an otherwise grand production.

The Thursday/Saturday cast had Aubrey Pevsner, Jeremy Middleton, Shillan, Samantha Hertz, Stephen Gunther, Shannon Carroll, Roberts, Paige McDama, Grogan and Oster.