THEATER REVIEW : ‘Rumors’ Spins a Well-Paced, Wacky Tale

Andrew Barnicle, artistic director of the Laguna Playhouse, sets a handsome stage for his stylish, winning, well-paced revival of Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” a late-’80s Broadway comedy full of old-fashioned laughs.

Labeled a farce by the playwright, it’s about a panicky group of well-heeled dinner guests who hatch a nonsensical, Byzantine cover-up at a black-tie party in the suburbs to save the absent host’s political career.

Does it sound familiar? In fact, “Rumors” is not about the Orange County bankruptcy or the Clinton White House or the Gingrich book deal or Gov. Pete Wilson’s frustrated presidential ambitions or any of those shenanigans. But it might as well be, given the wacky, tacky antics that Simon’s comedy offers and the absurdity with which they’re carried off.

When “Rumors” got to Broadway in 1988--it premiered in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre--the critics called for Simon’s scalp. The show was not only not a farce, they said, it wasn’t even one of his better comedies.

Thousands of theatergoers begged to differ. They bought tickets, nevermind the high prices, and kept the show on Broadway for more than a year. They laughed their way out the lobby and Simon, of course, laughed his way to the bank.

It’s difficult to make the case that a rich and famous writer was bum-rapped for writing something that made him richer and more famous. After seeing “Rumors” at the Old Globe, I was ready to bum-rap him, too. I didn’t care whether Simon conformed to the rules of a classic, door-slamming farce. I just wanted better jokes, less tedium.

Now, thanks to this production, I understand at last that “Rumors” can be not only painless but also very funny. For sure, it’s not in the same league with the national touring production of “Laughter on the Twenty-Third Floor” that played the Dolittle Theatre in Hollywood last season, either for one-line toppers or for Broadway-caliber performances. But what can be?

Barnicle’s large, well-cast ensemble--especially the top-notch Patricia Scarborough in an adroit turn as a tall country-clubby glamorpuss with smarts and Joel Leffert as her bald, bent-out-of-shape, BMW-crashing accountant-fixer husband--negotiates the hairpin turns and ludicrous contortions of a plot that holds less than a thimbleful of water.

“Rumors” does have a certain humidity, though. When you can sit back mindlessly to enjoy performances as deft as theirs--on top of Matthew Reidy’s prevaricating fumbler of a lawyer, Gail Godown’s flustered wife and J. Patrick McCormack’s silky, dumb, provincial politician--the plot doesn’t really have to make sense. And the play’s affluent Westchester setting translates so comfortably to Laguna Beach that “Rumors” feels right at home.

Barnicle’s direction, which helps you forget how broad a living room the vast playhouse stage demands, leaves nothing to be desired. Nor does his swank, perfectly detailed set design. And Paulie Jenkins’ lighting is, as they love to say here and in Westchester, to die for.

* “Rumors, A Farce,” Laguna Playhouse’s Moulton Theater, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Tues.-Fri., 8 p.m. Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.. Ends Jan. 28, 2 p.m. only. $18-$25. (714) 497-2787. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes.

Gail Godown: Chris Gorman

Matthew Reidy: Ken Gorman

Patricia Scarborough: Claire Ganz

Joel Leffert: Lenny Ganz

Richard Voigts: Ernie Cusack

Esther Richman: Cookie Cusack

J. Patrick McCormack: Glenn Cooper

Sarah Van Hoey: Cassie Cooper

Jack Gallagher: Officer Welch

Danica Ivancevic: Officer Pudney

A Laguna Playhouse production of a play by Neil Simon. Director and scenic design: Andrew Barnicle. Lighting design: Paulie Jenkins. Costume design: Mary Sadaatmanesh. Stage manager: John H. Lowe.