Peter J Triolo Scholarship

Neil Simon’s Rumors is a fast-paced farce featuring four wealthy couples in Westchester, NY, struggling to hide a scandal (a missing hostess and a wounded host) from police and gossip. The characters, aged roughly 30–50s, are high-society types who quickly fall apart through physical comedy, lies, and frenzied dialogue. 

Main Characters Breakdown

• Ken Gorman (Male,      30–60s): A calm, well-to-do lawyer who tries to take      charge of the situation. He suffers from temporary deafness after a      gunshot.
• Chris Gorman (Female,      30–60s): Ken’s wife, also a lawyer. She is      high-strung, recently quit smoking, and frantically attempts to maintain      normalcy.
• Lenny Ganz  (Male,      30–60s): A wealthy, sarcastic accountant with severe      whiplash from a car accident. He is quick to jump to conclusions and      dislikes gossip despite being surrounded by it
• Claire Ganz (Female,      30–60s): Lenny’s wife. Very concerned with      appearances, she often instigates gossip and starts the play with a      swollen lip.
• Ernie Cusack (Male,      40s–65): A psychiatrist and affable, calm husband to      Cookie. He tries to manage the chaos while preparing dinner.
• Cookie Cusack (Female,      40s–65): Ernie’s wife, a popular cooking show host.      She suffers from severe, physical back spasms that lead to heavy physical      comedy.
• Glenn Cooper (Male,      30s–60s): A handsome, ambitious man running for the      State Senate. He is heavily focused on his reputation.
• Cassie Cooper (Female,      20s–50s): Glenn’s wife, insecure and jealous, who is      fixated on her interest in crystals and her fractured marriage.
• Officer Ben Welch & Officer Pudney (Male/Female): Police      officers who arrive in Act II to investigate, escalating the panic.