RIDGEFIELD - There is an open invitation to an anniversary party at the Ridgefield Theater Barn which you do not want to miss. For three more weekends, Neil Simon's Rumors will continue to provide an evening of farce, performed by ten outstanding actors who leave not a trace of evidence of the crimes in their midst.

An expected celebration of the tenth wedding anniversary of very dear friends to a group of upper middle class couples turns into a Keystone Kops adventure to try to figure out what has happened to their hosts and why. And that is all I can say about that!

The first guests to arrive, Chris and Ken Gorman (played by Leigh Katz and Daniel Mulvihill), are met with a shock as they arrive in their very best party wear for the soiree. Scrambling to make sense of what has happened, they are joined by fellow tennis club member types who arrive in their brand-new Beamer, Claire and Lenny Ganz (Jody Bayer and Duane Lanham), bringing their own set of woes.

The adoring couple Ernie and Cookie (the cook) Cusack (Rick Haylon and Deborah Burke) join the fray. The last couple to arrive is local politician Glenn Cooper (Mathieu Regney) and his despairing wife Cassie (Kristin Gagliardi).

These four pairs mix and mingle as they frantically sort out the crisis that may, or may not, be confronting them.

When the police (Tim Heubenthal and Chhandra Som) arrive, no one can explain what exactly is going on.

This entire cast is simply really superb. They each play their very silly parts with the utmost sincerity and seriousness, which makes it all work.

Special kudos must go to the incredibly talented Duane Lanham for his monster of a monologue, which he enacts with energy and comedic timing which is second to none.

An evening done right, with dinner and drinks (BYO), at Ridgefield Theater Barn is always fun. This production makes it an evening not to miss. Life is a party, you must catch this one.

Performances continue weekends until March 25, with curtain Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 and Sunday afternoons at 2. Tickets are $24 for adults, and $20 for senior citizens, veterans and students.

Visit ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org or call 203-431-9850 for additional information and reservations.

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