Intelligent ‘Rumors’ production hobbled by script’s problems

Neil Simon's 1988 farce "Rumors," now being given a hearty production by the competent Jewish Repertory Theatre, is about a group of well-to-do New York dinner guests desperately trying to cover up the apparent attempted suicide of their unseen host. It feels as if it employs every stale joke left over from a '60s sitcom.

The main problem with the script is that it doesn't have a strong enough premise to justify all the craziness that ensues . The humor is in how nutty a group of friends get in trying to hide that info from each other (why?) and the general public.

We get jokes like a hard-of-hearing character answering the question "Do you want to talk to Joan?" with, "Sure, I'd love to go home." Then there's the supposed hilarity of having three of the lead characters named Ken, Glenn and Len. You find that funny? Then go; run to "Rumors" where a riotous time undoubtedly awaits you.

Most of the actors are union, and most give it their all in director Matt Neves' intelligent production. Charlene Sher and Susan Lowe have looniness in their souls, and they conqueror Simon's nonsense by allowing us to enjoy their thwarted attempts at sanity. Jerry Sroka and Gary Grossman play two of the saner members of the group, and it's sometimes amazing how well they manage to stay in character; they never become mere joke tellers. (Sroka delivers a wrap-up speech that gets more yuks than it deserves, thanks to his straight-faced playing.)

Neves doesn't have as much luck with Norma Morrow, who tries too hard to be weird (and is dressed in a gaudy cocktail outfit that would seem vulgar in a traveling gypsy troupe.)

And while it's easy to enjoy the rock-solid talents of Stephen Macht -- his body control is in itself a performance -- he is directed too broadly. His movements stand out as bits, without having been incorporated into character.

Doors slam a lot. People frequently yell and make ghastly faces. But the frantic posturing doesn't feel motivated.

Sher, Lowe, Sroka and Grossman, though, provide their own drama. Their mere entrances make you laugh, and when you consider the insipid lines they're made to say, that's a major achievement.

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at vegastheaterchat @aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.