Wine, deception, affairs. Neil Simon’s “Rumors” blends marital mishaps with a whirlwind of mischief in a twisting, two-act dark comedy.
LMU senior Arakelyan Armine Tatev Hamleti directed the 38-year-old comedy, which ran at Del Rey Players, a student-run theater company on campus, from Oct. 22 through Oct. 31.
Since first reading the play in high school, Hamleti had envisioned her own interpretation and always wanted the opportunity to one day bring it to life. Although “Rumors” is traditionally staged as a fast-paced farce, Hamleti sought to take a more naturalistic approach when directing by centering the comedy around the characters’ interactions and reactions.
Set in upstate New York, the play finds eight friends arriving at an anniversary party only to discover the two honorees are missing. Hoping to conceal a scandal involving their friend, the deputy mayor, the guests construct an elaborate cover-up that intensifies as the evening spirals into chaos.
Whether it is the screams across the room, whispers into ears, or constantly talking over each other, the cast captures the frenzied heart of Simon’s comedy. Their exaggerated physical performances and overlapping dialogue make even the smallest interactions much more entertaining, adding to the growing chaos.
The cast finds ways to bring the audience directly into the comedy. At several points, actors will single out members of the audience and direct lines toward them, blurring the boundary between the stage and the seats.
From the inpour of positive feedback from both the audience and the actors, bringing “Rumors” to life has been an incredibly rewarding experience for Hamleti. After first envisioning her interpretation of the play in high school, seeing the production finally come together has made the experience all the more meaningful.
When asked what she hopes audiences take away from the production, her answer is simple: “Chaos.” Judging by the laughter that echoed throughout the theater, the Del Rey Players delivered just that.
