submitted by Robert Allen
The Hoosick Falls Central School Drama Club proudly presents a night of comedy – Stephen Gregg’s one-act This Is A Test and Neil Simon’s Rumors. The two shows will be performed back to back and will run from Friday, December 4, to Sunday, December 6. The Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7 pm while the Sunday matinee begins at 2 pm. Thanks to the support of the HFCS Board and Administration, admission is free.
The first show of the night, This is a Test, is an outrageously funny take on one student’s disastrous experience with something we can all appreciate – taking a test. The frazzled student, having already stayed up all night, too distracted to actually study, gets more than she bargained for in this classic one-act play.
Rumors is one of the most famous and widely performed shows by the award winning American playwright Neil Simon (Fools, The Odd Couple and Lost in Yonkers). Several affluent couples gather for a wedding anniversary party at New York
City Deputy Mayor’s posh residence. Much to their surprise, the hostess is gone and the host has a bullet hole in his earlobe. Presuming they know what happened based on rumors and assumptions, they begin to make up stories to conceal the “truth” from one another, the community and the police. As additional guests arrive, the details become more intricate and confused, the stories harder to maintain…all leading up to a hysterical conclusion.
Director Robert Allen knew he had two winners when he found these two shows. “The first reading was wonderful. As expected, the cast couldn’t stop laughing at each new twist. What wasn’t expected was that weeks later, the cast was still laughing.”
The set is designed by Charles Krawczyk, with costumes designed by Missi Reynolds, both HFCS Drama regulars. Tony Malikowski is serving as lead builder, with additional set construction from Dwain Wilwol, who has over a decade of HFCS Drama shows under his tool belt. Stage Manager will be senior Emily K. Wilwol with juniors Amber Luke and Mary Luke and parent Jane Luke on props. Lights will be run by senior Angela Slaton with sophomore Nick Downing on the sound board.
Refreshments will be served during intermission, with all proceeds going to the Hoosick Falls Performing Arts Booster Club.
A note to parents – while the content of This is a Test is acceptable for all ages, there is some language (a few swear words) and some content in Rumors that may be deemed inappropriate for younger audiences.