Rumors at Mendocino College

The Mendocino College Theatre Arts Department Presents Rumors, a farce, by Neil Simon, directed by Lucas Verbrugghe. The show runs for two weekends only, March 5th-15th, in the Mendocino College Center Theatre on the Ukiah Campus. Neil Simon is a Tony and Pulitzer award winning playwright and one of the great American comedy writers of the 20th century, known for The Odd Couple, Brighton Beach Memoirs and Lost in Yonkers. Rumors is a fast-paced farce that takes place in New York in the early 1990’s. It’s the tenth wedding anniversary of Charley, the Deputy Mayor of New York City, and his wife, Myra. But when their friends arrive to the party, they find Charley has been shot and his wife is nowhere to be found. The guests are quickly tangled in a web of impossible lies in an attempt to protect their hosts reputation and, by extension, their own. The ensemble cast features ten talented actors that include current students, Mendocino College alums, and longtime veterans of the stage. Conservatory Cohort students Elizabeth Leach (the sharp-witted Claire Ganz) and Jadyn Musselman-Chalmers (the eager rookie Officer Pudney) return to the stage after their most recent roles in Big Love and Mendocino Stories respectively. Theatre Department newcomer Augusto Calderon makes his debut as the dogged Officer Welch joined by Joe Swearengin as the affable therapist Ernie Cusack and Ambreen Satia and Conservatory Cohort graduate Schuyler Marcier as the ever-on-the-rocks couple, Glenn and Cassie Cooper. Rounding out the cast are theatre veterans Bhavvy Ducharme (Lenny Ganz), Libby Guthrie (Cookie Cusack), Rod Grainger (Ken Gorman) and Kelly Kesey (Chris Gorman). This production will feature costumes and scenery highlighting the work of students in Mendocino College’s CTE program in technical theatre under the direction of faculty & staff members Steve Decker, Kathy Dingman-Katz, and David Wolf. New Mendocino College Theatre Program Director Lucas Verbrugghe is directing, and Mendocino College student Shianne Robertson is stage manager. Lucas Verbrugghe says, “When Neil Simon wrote this play, he was going through a dark time in his life. He said he wanted to write something that was ‘out-and-out funny’ because that’s what he needed. It’s pure farce. This production gives us laughter as a balm for what ails us.” Due to some mature language, parental discretion is advised. Performances are Thursday, Friday & Saturday March 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 & 14 at 7:30 PM, and Sunday March 15 at 2 PM. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for students and seniors. They can be purchased at the Mendocino Book Company in Ukiah and online at www.ArtsMendocino.org. The performance on Friday, March 6th is a Gala Opening Night celebration, and the ticket price includes a food and beverage reception catered by the college’s Culinary Arts Program, starting one hour before the show. Thursday March 5th is a “pay what you wish” preview. The performance on Thursday March 12 is a special discount night, with all tickets costing only $10. For information, call (707) 468-3172 or visit www.mendocino.edu/academics/programs/arts/theatre-arts.