Theater Reviews : It’s True, San Clemente’s ‘Rumors’ Is a Jokefest

When Neil Simon rolls up his sleeves and decides to get funny, as in “Rumors,” watch out. Certainly the audience at San Clemente’s Cabrillo Playhouse on Friday proved helpless before its rapid-fire jokes.

The 1988 comedy is a meringue about four wealthy couples at a dinner party. The first couple arrives to find their hostess missing and their host with a bullet hole in his ear. They feverishly work to hide the truth from the other guests while frantically trying to find out what really happened.

There’s no serious undercurrent, no baring of the soul as in “Broadway Bound,” none of the Angst of “Jake’s Women.”

But the comedy machine charges with such velocity that the biggest problem the San Clemente Community Theatre actors have is failing to wait for the laughs before they spring the next jokes.

No matter. Simon’s humor works like an assault weapon: You can waste a few bullets knowing there’s still plenty to spare.

The other remarkable thing about “Rumors,” is that the farcical element plays funnier in smaller venues. The only problem is that small companies have trouble projecting the requisite wealth in the set.

Here, despite a barely adequate set, K. Robert Eaton’s deft direction kneads the audience like a comic massage.

Marcia Bonnitz starts the play off right as Chris, the nervous, so-desperate-for-a-cigarette-she’ll-smoke-a-Q-Tip half of the first couple to show up. Walter DuRant’s high energy as Chris’ husband, Ken, pushes the story along nicely.

As the second couple, Diane Aaron offers intelligent elegance as Claire and Dee FitzGerald captures husband Lenny’s wry slant on life. Barbara Kerek Anzlovar at first seems too young as the ache-ridden Cookie, but her disarming performance charms anyway. Bill Carden amuses as Cookie’s husband Ernie, the analyst who hasn’t a clue as to what’s going on.

Roger B. Manning and Laura Williams as the politician Glenn and his wife, Cassie, actually succeed in finding the humor in their constant bickering--not an easy thing with these thinly drawn characters.

It all adds up to a play that may not be deep but is good for a laugh. Hey, it’s good for about 100 of them.

* “Rumors,” Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m., Sunday matinees Sept. 18 and 25 at 2. Ends Oct. 1. $10. (714) 492-0465. Running time: 2 hours, 5 minutes. Marcia Bonnitz: Chris Gorman

Walter DuRant: Ken Gorman

Diane Aaron: Claire Ganz

Dee FitzGerald: Lenny Ganz

Barbara Kerek Anzlovar: Cookie Cusack

Bill Carden: Ernie Cusack

Roger B. Manning: Glenn Cooper

Laura Williams: Cassie Cooper

Keri Anderson: Pudney

John Richard Petersen: Welch

A San Clemente Community Theatre production of the comedy by Neil Simon. Directed by K. Robert Eaton. Lights: Ed Howie.