Rumors
by Neil Simon

Name: Rumors
Brand: Neil Simon
SKU: 9780573691607
Rating: 3.96 (171 reviews)

Broadway

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins Present Day Interior Set Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes Comedy

Synopsis

At a large, tastefully-appointed Sneden's Landing townhouse, the Deputy Mayor of New York has just shot himself.

Though it's only a flesh wound, Charlie Brock's self-inflicted injury sets off a series of events causing four couples to experience a severe attack of farce.

As their tenth wedding anniversary party commences, Charlie lies bleeding in another room, and his wife Myra is nowhere in sight.

The first guests, lawyer Ken Gorman and his wife Chris, scramble to get “the story” straight before the other guests arrive.

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

Press Reviews

"Light, frothy and fun."
— New York Post

"Neil Simon makes people laugh a lot!"
— USA Today

"Not only side splitting, but front and back splitting."
— NBC-TV

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
KEN GORMAN (40) A well-to-do lawyer. Wealthy, but by no means pretentious. Takes charge of the situation. Married to Chris. Halfway through the show, a gunshot causes his temporary deafness.	male	40	(40) A well-to-do lawyer. Wealthy, but by no means pretentious. Takes charge of the situation. Married to Chris. Halfway through the show, a gunshot causes his temporary deafness.
CHRIS GORMAN (mid-30’s) Another lawyer, married to Ken. Beautiful, easily flustered. Frantically tries to maintain normalcy at the party. Has recently quit smoking, which drives her to drink a bit more.	female	mid-30	(mid-30’s) Another lawyer, married to Ken. Beautiful, easily flustered. Frantically tries to maintain normalcy at the party. Has recently quit smoking, which drives her to drink a bit more.
LENNY GANZ (Late 30’s, early 40’s) A wealthy accountant, distraught over the recent destruction of his new car. Starts the show with an extreme case of whiplash. Intolerant of the gossipy lifestyle that he is often involved in.	male	30	(Late 30’s, early 40’s) A wealthy accountant, distraught over the recent destruction of his new car. Starts the show with an extreme case of whiplash. Intolerant of the gossipy lifestyle that he is often involved in.
CLAIRE GANZ (Late 30’s) Lenny’s wife. Very concerned with appearances (hers and others’). Starts the play with a swollen lip. Likes to gossip.	female	30	(Late 30’s) Lenny’s wife. Very concerned with appearances (hers and others’). Starts the play with a swollen lip. Likes to gossip.
ERNIE CUSACK (Early 50’s) A psychiatrist. Affable, smokes a pipe. Loves his wife very much. Tries to be as helpful as possible cooking the evening’s dinner.	female	50	(Early 50’s) A psychiatrist. Affable, smokes a pipe. Loves his wife very much. Tries to be as helpful as possible cooking the evening’s dinner.
COOKIE CUSACK (40’s) Has her own cooking show. Suffers from extreme back spasms. Loves her husband very much. A bit absent-minded at times.	female	40	(40’s) Has her own cooking show. Suffers from extreme back spasms. Loves her husband very much. A bit absent-minded at times.
GLENN COOPER (30-40) A handsome man running for State Senate. Worried about his own reputation. Struggles with placating his wife, who is convinced he is having an affair (which he may or may not be).	female	30	(30-40) A handsome man running for State Senate. Worried about his own reputation. Struggles with placating his wife, who is convinced he is having an affair (which he may or may not be).
CASSIE COOPER (late 20’s, early 30’s) Glenn’s beautiful wife. Obsesses over her husband's relationships with other women. Quick to anger. Must rub her quartz crystal to calm herself down.	female	20	(late 20’s, early 30’s) Glenn’s beautiful wife. Obsesses over her husband's relationships with other women. Quick to anger. Must rub her quartz crystal to calm herself down.
OFFICER WELCH (M) – (30-50) A city police officer having a rough night. Does not tolerate lying. Sees through the “classy” façade that these high-society types put up.	—	30	(M) – (30-50) A city police officer having a rough night. Does not tolerate lying. Sees through the “classy” façade that these high-society types put up.
OFFICER PUDNEY (F) – (20-30) Welch’s partner. A strong but silent type.	—	20	(F) – (20-30) Welch’s partner. A strong but silent type.