Marcus Talbert, from left, as Lenny, Leighton Line as Ken, and Lia Tracey as Claire. Photo by Zoe Monge/California Lutheran University student
Laughs ensue in Theatre and Dance Department’s student production
THOUSAND OAKS — A posh dinner party with lovably goofy, bourgeois guests quickly spirals into a scandalous evening of confusion, mistaken identities and lies in California Lutheran University’s Theatre and Dance Department student production of “Rumors.” The Neil Simon comedy is presented in conjunction with Concord Theatricals and runs April 23–27, with evening performances Wednesday through Saturday and a Sunday matinee. Performances are in the Preus-Brandt Forum on the Cal Lutheran campus.
“Neil Simon’s humor is so unique, often driven by his rich, dynamic characters,” said theatre student Lia Tracey, who plays Claire Ganz. “I think each actor has been perfectly cast to bring these roles to life.”
Set in New York during the late 1980s, “Rumors” follows Ken and Chris Gorman, who are attending a party at the upscale suburban home of the deputy mayor of New York. The couple discovers the party’s host with a flesh wound in his earlobe after accidentally shooting himself. With the host’s wife nowhere to be found, the pair scramble to devise a story to save their friend from scandal before the other guests arrive.
Simon, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, explores the idea that if you are a good enough liar, you can get away with anything, as well as the damage rumors can inflict.
“Though the characters we play are in a constant state of stress, there is nothing but fun in the play,” said theater student Fiona Martin, who plays Chris Gorman. “We are so thrilled for our audiences to experience it themselves.”
“Rumors” will be at 8 p.m. on April 23–26, and 2 p.m. on April 27.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at bit.ly/rumorsproduction or at the door. The show is free for Cal Lutheran students, faculty and staff with an ID. The Preus-Brandt Forum is located at 135 Chapel Lane, Thousand Oaks, on the Cal Lutheran campus.
About California Lutheran University: Founded in 1959 and federally recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution since 2016, California Lutheran University is home to over 2,200 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. Our students come from 58 countries and represent many faiths and spiritualities. Our dedicated, accomplished faculty teach in small classes, guiding our students as they grow into open-minded leaders who are strong in character and judgment, confident in identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. Everyone at Cal Lutheran is committed to helping students pursue their passions, discover their purpose and transform their communities. Learn more at CalLutheran.edu