‘Rumors’ at FVCC

By Molly Priddy, 2-16-10

	Caption: FVCC actors bring Neil Simon's rumors to the Flathead stage. Photo courtesy of FVCC.

No, I don't mean there's juicy gossip floating around campus (that I know of...). "Rumors" as in the awesome theater production written by Neil Simon.

If you've ever seen a Simon play, you know that they require hilarity and brilliance from all involved, namely the actors and the director. You also would know that they are usually whip smart and generally meant for adult audiences. "Rumors," starting on Feb. 18 at Flathead Valley Community College, is one such production.

The play gives a riotous start by opening with a large party in a posh apartment in suburban New York City, but when the high society guests begin arriving in orderly pairs, they quickly discover that the servants are gone, the hostess is missing and the host—the deputy mayor of New York—has shot himself through the ear in his bedroom. Given all of their social standing, the guests decide quickly to conceal the matter and handle it themselves rather than call the proper authorities and risk being involved in the middle of what could be the greatest scandal of the decade!

FVCC already does an excellent job with their productions, but as an added bonus for this show, the actors will include students, instructors, program alumni and local community theater talent.

Flathead Valley Community College students Jami Jacobson and Jesi Roedel play the roles of Claire Ganz and Officer Pudney. College Theatre Instructor Rich Haptonstall plays hard of hearing Ken Gorman alongside his faculty colleague Brian Bechtold who plays Ernie Cusack. FVCC alumni Jarred Flores, Erin Flores and Zachary Mahon return to the FVCC stage for the roles of Glenn Cooper, Cassie Cooper and Officer Welch. And renowned community theatre performers Leah Lindsey, Jim Mohn and Julie Legate bring their talents to their roles of Cookie Cusack, Lenny Ganz and Chris Gorman.

The play opens Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in the FVCC Theatre inside the Arts and Technology Building on the college’s Kalispell campus. Performances continue Feb. 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. with a special matinee performance on Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 students and seniors and may be purchased in advance at the FVCC Bookstore, by calling 756-3814 or online at http://www.fvcc.edu.

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