Pentacle Theatre presents Neil Simon’s Rumors on stage June 26 to July 18

Pentacle Theatre presents Rumors by New York playwright Neil Simon, on stage June 26 through July 18. 

The play follows a small cast of characters at a 10th wedding anniversary celebration. Just before the party begins, the Deputy Mayor of New York shoots himself, setting off a farcical evening of miscommunications and slapstick humor. (Don’t worry, he lives!)

“Comedy has always been my strong point,” said Director Robert (Bob) Barnett. “I love comedies, and this was one of the best ones I knew.”

In 2005, Bob was cast as Ernie Cusack, a psychiatrist among the limited list of characters in Neil Simon’s play, Rumors. Bob spent months rehearsing, mastering, and acting as his character at a theater in Washington state. That production, though more than two decades in the past, remains one of his most cherished theater experiences. Bob still keeps in contact with his fellow cast members from that formative experience, which is why, when asked to direct at Pentacle, he chose this show. 

When first approaching his role as director, Bob made it a goal to strengthen group morale, something he knew would help create a cohesive on-stage performance. 

“The most important thing was the ensemble feeling. There are no stars in this particular show. Nobody stands out at any particular time,” Bob said.

Rumors also has no scene breaks, which means Bob started doing longer run-throughs early in the rehearsal process. Not only is the on-stage product entirely collaborative, but the act of preparing and creating this show has been as well. 

“Working through a particular act brought everybody together, all at one time,” Bob said. 

While Bob is partial to comedies, he is quick to point out that Rumors is a farce, a genre of play that he describes as less character-driven than a general comedy. The characters in farces are real people under real circumstances that are taken to extremes. It’s these exact conditions that result in a sequence of hilarious, furiously paced events. 

“It’s practically nonstop; it isn’t until intermission that the audience has a moment to reflect on what they just witnessed,” said Bob, “Then Act 2 starts, and it goes all over again.”

The cast and crew of Rumors have been rehearsing on a rigorous schedule, memorizing lines and blocking scenes since April. They are eager for an audience, of which Bob said: “I just want them to laugh out loud as much as they can. In a world that has such divisions in it, and such terrible things happening, sometimes we just need an escape.”

Rumors

When: 7:30 p.m. June 26-27, July 2-4, 8-11, 16-18 and 2 p.m. June 28, July 5 and 11-12

Where: Pentacle Theatre, 324 52nd Ave NW

Tickets: pentacletheatre.org

This is a story teaser from Press Play Salem issue 28 (Summer 2026). Watch for more coming soon!

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Author: Lindy Rybloom