JUST FOR LAUGHS: NEIL SIMON'S `RUMORS' OPENS FRIDAY

Ten actors and actresses will make the most out of six doors when the Neil Simon farce "Rumors" opens Friday at the Forrest H. Rose Theatre.

Ala "Noises Off," trip hammer-timed entrances and exits and broad humor are all the heart and soul to be found in this Simon play, which opened on Broadway to mixed reviews in 1988 and ran for just over a year.

Simon had just completed his autobiographical Brighton Beach trilogy when he wrote "Rumors," a two-acter that makes the most of obfuscation and flushing toilets.

"Simon wrote this just to make people laugh," says Dennis Seyer, who is directing the University Theatre production.

The scene is the 10th wedding anniversary party of a well-to-do couple living just outside New York City. When the tuxedoed and gowned guests begin arriving they discover, all in their own time, that their host is in an upstairs bedroom with a gunshot wound and the hostess is missing.

What ensues is an attempt at a cover-up that one critic described as "6,000 laughs."

The cast includes Jaime Burns, Justin Heinrich, Amy Jo Diebold, Dan Akre, Marty Strohmeyer, Amanda Ross, Patrick Rebmann, Kym Huff, Don Marler and Jwu Ding.

Seyer, the University Theatre's technical director, also will handle the technical direction and lighting in "Rumors."

His past directorial assignments include "Very Good Eddie," "The Fantasticks" and "Jerry's Girls."

The stage manager is Brandon Nielson, Diana Mays is in charge of costumes and make-up, and freshman Isabel Buencamino is the assistant director.

"Rumors" will be presented Friday, Saturday and Wednesday, and Nov. 10, 11 and 12. The curtain opens at 8 p.m.

Valerie Kline will provide interpretation for the hearing impaired during the Nov. 11 performance.

Tickets are $3 for students, faculty, staff and senior citizens, $5 for non-students, and $2 for children under 12. They are available at the University Box Office.