Rumours

American playwright Neil Simon wrote his first farce, Rumors, when his marriage was breaking up in the 1980’s. It is interesting therefore that the farce he created involved a group of married couples and the theme revolved around a wedding anniversary.

Simon’s subsequent British version of his comedy, Rumours (note the different spelling), is the one Galleon Theatre Group is now premiering in Adelaide. The popular local theatre company has developed a very fine production indeed, filled with dry humour, wit and well-drawn characters.

Four sophisticated married couples arrive in cocktail attire at the upmarket home of prominent government official Charley and his wife Vivian. They expect to help the two celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. Instead, Vivian is nowhere to be seen and Charley is in a bad way somewhere upstairs, having shot himself through an ear. There’s blood, the servants are not on duty and no food has been cooked for dinner. As they try to protect the reputation of yet-to-appear Charley and also leave their own careers unscathed, the eight party guests find themselves in a hilarious whirlwind of unlikely events, increasing drunkenness and no end of concocted explanations.

It is a delight to watch the story unfold on Galleon’s perfect set, a room that oozes the comfort and sophisticated lifestyles that couples such as these exist within. When things begin to unravel and powerful people lose the capacity to control outcomes, everything seems even funnier in such a realistically upper-class setting. It is also good to see a farce in which the set walls don’t wobble when the action moves vigorously in and out of doors.

Supported by a mostly highly experienced cast, Director Kym Clayton keeps the action at hectic pace, particularly in the first act.

Anita Canala is outstanding as Chris Bevans. She has wonderful comic timing. Canala gives one of the best performances of someone growing more and more amusingly inebriated that I’ve ever seen on stage. There is subtly in her performance as well as hysterically funny moments. Peter Davies is very good as Chris’s husband Ken and particularly funny when Ken temporarily loses his hearing.

Giving Anita Canala a run for her money in terms of stealing scenes is Andrew Clark as Len Cummings. His final monologue of desperately imagined explanations is terrific. It gained spontaneous applause on opening night. Linda Lawson is delightful as Len’s wife, Claire Cummings.

David Lockwood is wonderful as the therapist Ernest Cusack, while Lindy LeCornu is absolutely hilarious as his wife Cookie.

John Koch is terrific as Glenn Cooper and Leanne Robinson is suitably venomous as Cassie, his wife.

Andy Winwood does a very good cameo as Officer Conklin. Ashleigh Merriel has good stage presence as Officer Casey, but needs to increase her volume.

Costumes and hairstyles are excellent. Lighting is very well done, including realistic headlight effects as cars arrive at the house. Sound design is also strong.

Galleon Theatre Group invariably puts on high quality comedies, but the company’s production of Rumours is a quite a standout and definitely not to be missed.

Lesley Reed