`RUMORS' TRANSFORMS DISABREABLE CHARACTERS INTO LAUGHABLE CARTOONS

Farce is a difficult theatrical proposition that requires a childish level of make-believe, director Gene Saks said after opening Neil Simon's "Rumors" on Broadway.

"It's essential the actors believe in the situation, because if they don't believe it, the audience won't.

Fortunately for the audiences who will come to see "Rumors" this week and next at the Rose Theatre, the 10-member University Theatre cast believes with a vengeance.

The situation in "Rumors," which opens at 8 tonight, is farcical if a bit contrived. The upscale guests begin arriving for the 10th anniversary party of Charlie and Myra Brock only to discover, couple by couple, that Charlie is upstairs, sedated and nursing a mysterious gunshot wound to his earlobe, and Myra is mysteriously missing.

Charlie is the deputy mayor of New York City. Most of his friends -- turn out to be ambitious clients who can think of very good reasons to keep the truth -- even though nobody knows what that is -- from each new arrival and especially from the police.

One inherent problem with "Rumors" is that these "friends" -- the Gormans, the Ganzes, the Cusacks and the Coopers -- always keep each other at arm's length and their only allegiance is to self-preservation.

But under Dennis Seyer's direction, the University Theatre cast successfully turns these mostly disagreeable, tunnel-visioned characters into animated cartoons that can be laughed at.

"Isn't that the dress you wore for cerebral palsy?" asks Chris. "No, this is sickle cell," the usually acerbic Claire answers without a hint of irony.

Dan Akre and Amy Jo Diebold are remarkably good as Lenny and Claire Ganz, a pair of walking piranha. When they bite they draw blood, and when they lie they create new realities.

Always incredulous at the ludicrousness of the situation and the foibles of their fellow conspirators, Lenny and Claire drive the play. Akre and Diebold play their parts with grand flair.

Marty Strohmeyer's neurotic analyst Ernie Cusack is way over the top and responsible for much of the frenzy necessary to any farce. You will laugh outloud.

As Ken Gorman, Justin Heinrich gives us new reasons to dislike lawyers, while Patrick Rebmann's portrayal of the philandering, self-centered politician Glenn Cooper is scary in this political season.

Simon has fun with ambitious and successful men in this play, but their women are broadly-drawn objects of ridicule as well.

There's a frantic, nicotine-starved lawyer (Chris Gorman, played by Jaime Burns), a ditsy and hysterical cooking show host named Cookie (Amanda Ross) and Cassie Cooper (Kym Huff), who seeks solace in a 2 million-year-old crystal when she gets upset. All involved do a first-rate job.

Hefty Don Marler as Officer Welch and diminutive Jwu Ding as Officer Pudney provide a final visual joke when the police arrive just before the near-blackout ending.

The set, designed by Seyer, is nicely done, consisting of a tastefully appointed living room. Costumes and make-up design are by Diana Mays.

The stage manager is Brandon Neilson, and the assistant director is Isabel Buencamino.

"Rumors" continues Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday, and Nov. 11 and 12. The curtain goes up is at 8 p.m.