September 17, 2004

Neil Simon play opens this week at Purdue Experimental Theatre

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Experimental Theatre will present Neil Simon's 1980s farce, "Rumors," starting Thursday (Sept. 23) in the Stewart Center's Experimental Theatre.

The plot of the play centers around four couples in a Manhattan suburb celebrating their best friends' 10th wedding anniversary. The couples discover that their host has a gunshot wound from what appears to be an attempted suicide.

A missing wife, a missing cook, a damaged car, whiplash and rumors galore add to the comedic mayhem as circumstances become progressively difficult when nobody can remember who has told what to whom. Kristine Holtvedt, associate professor of theater, directs the production.

"For Neil Simon, traditional values and view of the individual in society are paramount," Holtvedt says. "In his world, it is better to be in relationships, and it is with love and friendship that we sustain ourselves. In the play, we see the lengths to which a group of friends will go to protect one of their own. Beyond that, audiences will delight in watching this collection of wealthy and sophisticated people make fools of themselves."

"Rumors" opens at 8 p.m. Thursday, with additional performances Sept. 24-25 and Sept. 29 through Oct. 2, with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees Sept. 26 and Oct. 3. Tickets are on sale now at campus box offices.

General admission is $14 and $16. Senior citizen tickets are $10 and $12, and student tickets are $8 and $10. Tickets may be purchased at the Loeb Box Office in Stewart Center, or by calling (765) 494-3933 or toll-free at (800) 914-7469 (SHOW). Tickets also are available online at TicketMaster.com. Groups of eight or more can reserve discounted tickets by calling (765) 494-3084. Group tickets are $10 for the general public and $6.50 for students.

CONTACT: Lori Sparger, Purdue Theatre marketing director (765) 494-3084, theatre@purdue.edu

Writer: Reni Winter, (765) 496-3133, rwinter@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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