April 19, 2024

It’s not a rumor

SWCC drama club to reprise its production of Neil Simon’s “Rumors” for club’s fifth anniversary

By SARAH SCULL

Cookie Cusack (Maisy Franklin), left, shows off her odd outfit after she and Ernie Cusack (Jesper Holke-Farnum) entered the house party during a scene from Neil Simon's "Rumors" which will be presented by the Southwestern Community College drama club 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The performance is a black box show and seats are limited to 50. This performance contains adult language and may not be appropriate for younger audiences. (CNA photo)

To celebrate its fifth anniversary, the Southwestern Community College drama club will perform Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” which it first performed in the spring of 2014, during its first season.

“I really wanted to do Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, but I did not have the group for it. You have to have the right cast,” said Kelly Franklin, SWCC drama club director.

Franklin, who reads and performs “Rumors” with her Dramatic Literature class each year at SWCC, said she was reading through it this year when she thought how it would be fun to have the drama club perform it for the club’s anniversary.

“I thought it would be a really neat way to kind of give an homage to that original group,” said Franklin.

Franklin asked the original cast members if they would like to perform. Jennie Stamper of Greenfield, one of the original cast members, will reprise her role of Claire in this year’s performance.

Rumors

Charley and Myra Brock are celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary with a party at their home. As the first couple arrives, they discover Charley has attempted suicide. Myra is missing and the guests have no idea what has happened.

Franklin said as the party goers try to piece together what happened, more friends arrive, and those who know are trying to hide what has happened from the new arrivals. As the night goes on, a number of lies and rumors spread throughout the party.

“So it’s just madcap hijinks throughout the evening until, finally, everyone knows. And then they are trying to fool the police because they don’t want Charley to get in trouble,” said Franklin. “It’s just a series of unfortunate events.”

As the confusions and miscommunications mount, the evening spins off into hilarity.

Franklin said she performed “Rumors” in high school.

“It’s a hilarious production. It’s very fast comedy,” said Franklin. “Audiences love it and it was one of my most favorite plays to act in. I remember loving it so much. And I did it again in college. I knew I could easily direct it with a group that was new to the stage because of my familiarity with it.”

Tickets

SWCC drama club will perform "Rumors" 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

This year’s performances will be black boxed seating, with only 50 seats available each night, creating a more intimate atmosphere for attendees.

To reserve a seat for “Rumors,” please email Kelly Franklin at franklin@swcciowa.edu. Franklin will return your email with confirmation of your seats and date. Tickets will be paid for at the door. Ticket prices are $7 for the general public and $5 for students.