I heard it through the grapevine...

Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 by Pat Gaik

I'm a little late putting this up, considering we opened last week! Maybe my attention-whore needs are abating? Nah....

Miranda Axsom, April Wyant, Dan Challacombe, John Johnson, Mary Simon, Bob Lane Jr., Sara Flanders and Pat Gaik in Neil Simon's "Rumors"

Commercial:

Neil Simon’s “Grapevine” Reaps Laughs at Conklin’s

Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre is very happy to announce the opening of the Neil Simon’s hilarious comedy “Rumors” starring Bob Lane Jr. and Mary Simon on Thursday, September 17 and playing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday brunches through November 8.

“Rumors” is Neil Simon’s only true farce and it’s a riot of hysterical activity from the moment the curtain goes up on an elegant New York home where an anniversary party is to take place for Charlie and Myra Brock. Unfortunately, Myra and the servants are missing and Charlie is upstairs alone, apparently suffering from an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Ken Gorman, Charlie’s lawyer, and his high-strung wife Chris are on the scene trying to sort out what happened before the other guests arrive. Charlie’s accountant Leonard Ganz and his gossip-prone wife Clair are next to arrive and be caught up in the web of intrigue, followed closely by Charlie’s analyst Ernie and his wife Cookie, as well as State Senate hopeful Glenn Cooper and his jealous, crystal-clutching wife Cassie. Things get heated enough to arouse the suspicions of the police, who arrive in the form of Officers Welch and Pudney, forcing the other guests to come up with a last-minute solution that will save their reputations and have the audience in gales of laughter.

Barn headliners Bob Lane Jr. and Mary Simon, who also directs, are teaming up as Len and Clair to lead the troupes through this comedy of outrageous fortune, including John Johnson and Miranda Axsom as Ken and Chris Gorman, Pat Gaik and Sara Flanders as Ernie and Cookie Cusack, and Dan Challacombe and April Wyant as Glenn and Cassie Cooper. Police officers Welch and Pudney are played by Tom Weber and Diann Thompson.

Set design is by Tom Weber, technical direction is by April Wyant, and publicity is by Pat Gaik. Conklin’s Barn II is known for its delicious buffet which, on evening performances, includes four main entrees featuring the Barn’s renowned prime rib and fried chicken, with salad, homemade soup and cheese spread, and a choice of four taste-tempting, homemade desserts. Prices for dinner and show are $31.00 on Thursday evening, $33.00 on Friday evening and Sunday brunch, and $35.00 on Saturday evening, including tax. No advance payment is required. Conklin’s is also BYOB for wine, beer or cocktails. Glasses, ice and ice buckets are provided at no extra charge. For reservations, call the box office at 309-965-2545. For more information, visit the Barn on the internet at www.barn2.com.

Posted in There's No Business Like Show Business

If you enjoyed this post Subscribe to our feed