'Rumors' will fund state trip to session

The cast of Greenbrier High School's newest production plans to spread rumors this week as they debut Neil Simon's satire about upper-class America.

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Rumors is a comedy following four couples at a dinner party, at which the host has been shot, the hostess is missing and the guests conspire to cover it all up.

"Neil Simon is a very prolific writer of comedy," said Steve Hansen, a Greenbrier High drama teacher. Simon's other comedies include The Odd Couple and Barefoot in the Park. "I think some of the most funny, some of the most comical and humorous plays you'll ever see are his."

The production will start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in the Greenbrier High auditorium.

The play is a student production. The cast and crew rehearsed lines and character development all summer and have been working on blocking since school began, said sophomore Michael Ryan, who plays the role of Ken Gorman.

Michael, 15, said audiences are sure to laugh at the on-stage antics of Simon's characters.

"It is crazy," he said. "All the people in the cast, their personality matches their character."

Hansen said students have put together their own production for the past several years. He said he built a two-story set for the production and has coached the cast and crew a little from the sidelines.

"They are doing really well," said Hansen, after watching the cast run through the show for the first time.

Tickets cost $8 for adults and $5 for students and are available at the door. Proceeds from the play and a summer drama camp go toward expenses of a state theater conference, Hansen said.