Eumundi Voice Issue 113, 20 March 2025

ART ABOUT

Rumours of great entertainment at Noosa

Imagine arriving for an anniversary party to discover your host – a British government minister – has shot himself in the ear. Guests Ken and Chris wonder whether it was accidental. Others arrive including Len and Claire, who have already been injured in a car accident, while Ernest, Cookie, Glenn and Cassie all have their own problems. Efforts to avoid a scandal result in hilarious mayhem and soon police are involved. Audiences will be laughing nonstop at the crazy development and fast-flowing witty dialogue in Neil Simon’s upcoming play Rumours, at Noosa Arts Theatre.

Neil Simon is the master of social middle class farce, with innumerable Broadway hits turned into movies such as The Odd Couple, Plaza Suite, Barefoot in the Park and Rumours. The original version involved a New York Deputy Mayor –written during Simon’s messy divorce when he needed to find laughter in his life. Its huge success led to his UK farcical version with British characters and a “u” in the title.

Director Andrew Moon has gathered a super cast, including new faces and several wellknown favourites including Robert Boesch –recently incognito as Scrooge – Oriana Packman, Glen Miller, Liz Bear, Maria Karambelas, Michael Morgan, Ryan Carr, Lily Parisi, along with Jane Rivers and Stephanie Fratter – as the two shortest officers in the Metropolitan Police.

Tickets are selling fast, with performances on 3-20 April. Bookings: noosaartstheatre.org.au or at the Box Office on 5449 9343, Tuesday to Fridays between 10am-2pm.