This weekend marks the opening of the 51st season of Village Players Theatre, with Neil Simon’s classic farce, Rumors, running from September 6 to 28, 2024. Confusion and chaos reign as guests at a dinner party try to solve the mystery of the missing hosts and food.

At a large, tastefully-appointed suburban NYC house, 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 is about to begin, the first guests, lawyers 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.

As the rest of the guests arrive the story of Charley and Myra’s anniversary evening gone awry grows and develops. In the end all the guests are complicit in a cover-up that no one even really understands, but the fantastical events of the evening are hilarious and give a rich basis for great characters doing what Neil Simon does best – making the mundane…insane!

Directed by Anne Harper. Produced by David Nicholson & Nick Munaretto.

L-R: Cameron Mitchell and Deena Baltman as Ernie and Cookie Cusack, Shelley Scarrow as Chris Gorman, Matt Taylor and Livia Pravato as Officers Welch and Pudney, David Planche and Arleigh Curran as Glenn and Cassie Cooper, Jerry Logan as Lenny Ganz.
Photography by Paula Munaretto, Costume designers Ann Lenchak and Julie Clark

Rumors – Village Players Theatre – 2190 Bloor St W, Toronto – Sept 6 to 28, 2024 

Both this week’s performances feature something special. On Friday, join us after the performance in the lobby to celebrate the season opening with wine and cheese and an opportunity to meet the cast. On Saturday, enjoy a matinée performance – new this season by popular demand – and grab a ticket at Senior pricing if you’re over 65.

Click here for show times and to purchase tickets.  Reservations can also be made by phone (416-767-7702) and pay at the box office when you arrive.

Check out what’s ahead for the full 24/25 season here.

 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.