It’s not just pure speculation: Naperville’s BrightSide Theatre will present “Rumors” March 6 to March 22 at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth Ave. Penned by Neil Simon, the farce is set during an ill-fated 10th-anniversary party.
“A group of out-of-touch, disconnected couples must cover up a curious scandal thrusting them out of their comfort zones, forcing them to rediscover and reconnect to one another,” explained Director Aaron Henrickson. “It’s a lot of fun to watch.”
Ten actors will be taking on this fast-paced comedic romp.
“This group of actors has been fantastic to work with — they play beautifully off one another and are great fun to watch dart back and forth across the stage,” Henrickson said. “There is a fantastic bounce to this show.”
While the play originally opened on Broadway in 1988, its main themes remain plenty relevant.
“We are so disconnected today, with our busy lifestyles, cell phones always at the ready, texting in our sleep — truly we find so many ways to busy ourselves, and therefore we are often very disconnected, especially from those people that matter the most,” Henrickson said. “That’s why I think Simon’s play is so relevant and resonant today — we need those reminders to shake us back in touch, even if we have to make fools ourselves to get there.”
Of course, staging a farce is no walk in the park.
“The biggest challenge for me has been setting up the dominoes of the play so the actors can knock them down,” Henrickson said. “Farce is very technically demanding: One event should cause the next event, which causes the next event and so on and so on, which is not wholly different from a traditional drama or comedy play. But with a farce, everything is happening at such a fast pace, so timing is key — which requires a lot of preparation, discipline and experimentation to get everything humming.”
Staging a farce in Meiley-Swallow Hall’s three-quarter thrust theater — with the audience sitting on three sides — also has proved to be a rewarding challenge.
“I think the set design offers some fantastic traffic for the actors and a unique and inviting atmosphere for an audience,” Henrickson said.
First and foremost, “Rumors” is played for laughs.
“I hope the audience has a blast,” Henrickson says. “This above all — a farce should always be funny first.”
Neil Simon’s work has a deeper side as well.
“I hope the audience connects to that theme of the disconnection in our everyday lives,” Henrickson said. “That sometimes we need grand gestures and events to wake up to those things, especially those people we weren’t paying enough attention to — even if we have to make fools ourselves to get there.”
“Rumors” runs March 6 to March 22 at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth Ave. Shows are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $25 for adults and $22 for students and seniors. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit or call 630-637-7469.
As the third production of the BrightSide Theatre Youth Project, BrightSide is also presenting “Disney’s Aladdin Jr.” March 7 to March 15, at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall. The musical production, directed by BrightSide Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass, features local kids ages 8 to 16. Shows are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students.
Jen Banowetz is a freelance writer.
BrightSide Theatre’s “Rumors”
When: March 6-22
Where: Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth Ave., Naperville
Tickets: $22-$25
Information: 630-637-7469
