When Neil Simon writes a play, the audience is sure to get a laugh, and his 1990 comedy-mystery, "Rumors," is no different.
Directed by Liberty High School junior Cheryl Kuehne, 10 drama students will perform "Rumors" at the Eldersburg school tonight, tomorrow and next weekend.
"Eight people are celebrating their two friends' 10th wedding anniversary, but the celebrating couple are never seen," Cheryl said. "The man is upstairs with a bullet hole in his ear and is unconscious. And his wife is missing."
The rumors start as the four couples who are guests speculate on what happened. Underlying this mystery are the personal problems of the four couples, who come in hating each other and wind up falling in love again.
For instance, one couple has been involved in a car accident on the way to the party. Another couple argues over one thing or another throughout the play.
"These are rich, spoiled yuppies," said Katy Schuman, who plays a police officer. "A psychiatrist, two lawyers, a cook with her own show, a state Senate candidate, a certified public accountant."
Things get a bit out of hand when the police show up to talk to the couple about the car accident and the guests believe the police are there about the missing couple.
The story gets funnier as one of the guests concocts a theory as to what happened -- which turns out to be exactly what did happen.
"They've twisted everything that could be twisted around -- there's all sorts of innuendoes," Cheryl said.
Katy, as Officer Jennifer Welch, has to listen to the guests' stories but doesn't believe any of them. "They do get to the bottom of the story, but it's totally unbelievable," she said.
Senior Matt Burkhart plays macho Lenny Ganz, who has been in the car accident and gets in deeper trouble when he pretends to be the missing homeowner, rather than the accident victim, when the police come. "Lenny is always trying to help himself and get himself out of trouble," he said. "But he's also responsible for getting the people at the party back together again."
"Rumors" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. today, tomorrow, and May 6-7 in the Liberty High School auditorium, 5855 Bartholow Road. Tickets are $3 in advance or $4 at the door. Information: 795-8100.