June 18 - 24, 2025
A rare treat for theatre audiences By SHANE DOUTHIE AUDIENCES are in for a treat when they watch Wangaratta Players coming production of the Neil Simon comedy classic “Rumours” which opens in just a few weeks time. For the first time they will get to see two of the North East’s finest actors, Bec Carta and Reg Carmody, playing opposite each other on stage. Directed by Steve Thornycroft and Leanne Kelly, this razor-sharp production throws audiences straight into a whirlwind of carefully orchestrated chaos as confusion reigns at a dinner party with with two major problems: the hostess is missing, and the host is upstairs - bloodied, delirious, and not saying much. Bec is relatively fresh from her award-winning role as Dr Watson in Baskerville; A Sherlock Holmes Mystery while Reg has been entertaining local crowds across the North East for three decades in wide-ranging roles from Shakespeare to Monty Python. Despite Bec’s hectic schedule this year she is excited by the opportunities that await playing Cookie who is married to Reg’s Ernest. Cookie Cusack is a 1980s cooking show host who’s as naive as she is suspicious, and as accident-prone as she is practical. ■ Continued Page 6
◆ JUST A COUPLE OF SWELLS: Bec Carta as Cookie and Reg Carmody as Ernest will perform together on stage for the first time in Wangaratta Players’ production of “Rumours”. PHOTO: Kelly Timms
BOOK NOOK
UP THE SLOPES
YOUR HEALTH
LEGAL MATTERS
with BELINDA
with JEFF
with BELINDA
with VIC LEGAL AID