Uncorked: Neil Simons’ Rumors Hits The Valley!

Uncorked: Neil Simons’ Rumors Hits The Valley!
By Mike Butler

I was walking down the street the other day and I noticed that no one was smiling. No one was smirking, grinning, or even wincing…nothing! I think everyone needs a good laugh in their life. I guarantee a way to scrape away the winter blues is to come to CentreStage and see their latest production: Neil Simon’s Rumors!

Written by Neil Simon, famous for brilliant comedies like The Odd Couple, The Sunshine Boys, Lost in Yonkers, and Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Rumors was first performed on Broadway in 1988, winning multiple Tony awards, and the jokes are just as wild and hilarious now as they were then: on the night of their 10th wedding anniversary, the deputy mayor of New York City, Charley Brock, has shot himself in the ear, and his wife Myra is missing! Their guests arrive and have no idea how to handle the situation! They can’t find Myra, an explanation, the servants, or the blasted cheese dip. Should they call the police? Was it a suicide, a lover’s spat, or just an accident? Who knows!? Crazy ideas unfold, panic sets in, and so does the hilarity as the guests work together to figure things out. There are lots of doors, stairs, food, phones, and farce as the evening goes from bad to worse–and that’s even before the cops show up! Rumors will definitely keep you in stitches. It’s silly, cheesy, witty, and way too much fun!

Director Junie Hutchinson has assembled a stellar cast including Charley McBride, Brian Cottam, Linda Levy-Fisk, Mike Butler (Yes, that’s ME!), Gwenyth Dwyn, John Smith, Caroline Leverett (in her CentreStage debut), Alan Tupper, Mike Kenny, and Karen Court. The cast has had a ball getting this production ready and they wish to thank all the great people who built the wonderful set and have pitched in to make this play so much fun to do! I have to say that this is my sixtieth production and it’s been one of the most rewarding plays I’ve done!

Come out and support local theatre, have a great laugh, and enjoy the Rumors. Believe me, once you see Rumors, you’ll want to tell EVERYBODY!

The remaining evening performance dates are March 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, and 24, with Sunday matinees on March 11, 18, and 25 starting at 2pm. Front of house opens at 6:45pm for the evening performances and 1:15pm for the matinees.Tickets: adults $15, seniors/students $12. CentreStage takes cash or cheques only. Reservations are held until 15 minutes before show time. It is highly recommended you call 902-678-8040 to reserve your spot as the shows tend to sell out! Please note there is a coarse language advisory for this show. Feel free to visit centrestagetheatre.ca for upcoming shows, auditions and more!