St. Albert Theatre Troupe debuts first Neil Simon play

Attempted suicide and cover-ups spell tragedy. But in the malleable hands of award-winning American playwright Neil Simon, tragic elements are cleverly transformed into a farce.

St. Albert Theatre Troupe, which has received numerous requests to mount one of Simon’s comedies, landed the rights to Rumors. The dinner theatre production runs at the Kinsmen Korral on April 25 to 27, May 2 to 4 and May 9 to 11.

Set in 1980s opulence, Rumors takes place in a tiny suburban residence. Four couples meet to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their host, Charley, the deputy mayor of New York. But there’s a glitch. He’s been shot through the earlobe and his wife has disappeared. Given the guests’ upper class status, they immediately shift into cover up mode and deliberately misdirect local police and the media.

“He’s a brilliant writer, intelligent and a quick wit. Everything has a subtext. There is always something underneath what’s been said. You can tell the author pained over the words. Every character’s words are there for a reason,” said director Mark McGarrigle.

Two weeks ago McGarrigle stepped up to fill Steve Palmer’s position. Originally slated as director, Palmer stepped away from the role due to out-of-town work commitments.

As a playwright, screenwriter and television writer, Simon’s trademark became a rapier wit, successful stereotypes in unbelievable situations and happy endings.

The lightweight script, penned in the mould of a Molière farce, is peopled with elegantly dressed characters gradually revealing a litany of idiocies. But behind the sophisticated urban wisecracks, lurks a problem that requires a solution.

In this madcap, door slamming farce the characters anchor the show by gradually exposing their marital problems. For instance, Chris Gorman (Katie Elliott) is an attractive woman who pops cigarettes and vodka martinis.

“Chris and her husband Ken are stressed out about the situation they landed themselves in. They’re in quite a panic,” McGarrigle noted.

“Ken (Trevor Lawless) is befuddled and he’s the one with a hearing problem. Everyone talks louder to him. They think he’s stupid. He’s the naÄ‚Ĺ»ve one.”

Claire (Amanda Blair) Ganz is the smart mouth amused by the situation, and her husband Lenny (Kelly Aisenstat) is the foul-mouthed one.

“Claire is always snooty, putting down Lenny at every chance she gets. Lenny is the idiot but he’s funny. He drives the whole situation and Kelly brings chutzpah to the character.”

Cookie (Amanda Niblett) Cusack is the flamboyant, quirky host of a cooking show and her hubby Ernie (Sheldan Ishaq) is Charley’s psychiatrist. He’s the quiet one in the group.

Glenn (Darell Portz) Cooper is a candidate for the state Senate and his younger wife Cassie (Louise Large) is a loose cannon who spends a lot of time in the bathroom and flirts outrageously.

Although characters use the now passĂ© dial phone and intercom, McGarrigle believes there is a timeless quality to Simon’s work.

“Character relationships are still relevant today. The relationship of one couple is loving. The other is acidic. People always enjoy good relationship plays. They are something we all relate to."