If he had to pick a song to describe Neil Simon’s Rumors, Aaron Davis would choose one that’s written into the script.

It’s classic ’80s, transports you to a cheesy Tex-Mex restaurant and inexplicably gets your feet tapping.

“La Bamba – it really fits the play because it’s fast and crazy,” says Davis, who has had Simon’s 1988 farce on his list of “plays to direct” for the past six years.

“It’s like a roller coaster of laughs. From the first 30 minutes to the last 30 minutes, it’s got a constant beat of comedy.”

Rumors is a hilarious and hectic look at four affluent couples who gather in a posh suburban residence for dinner party celebrating their friends’ 10th anniversary.

When they arrive, they discover there are no servants, the hostess is missing, and the host – the deputy mayor of New York City – has shot himself through the earlobe.

Comic complications arise when, given everyone’s upper-class status, they decide they need to do everything possible to conceal the evening’s events from the police and the media.

Directing the deceit, drunkenness, gunshots, bloody noses, back spasms and overall nuttiness has required much focus from Davis, who wanted to make sure each actor had their comedic timing down to a tee.

“It’s like having metronome in my head,” Davis says.

“I’ve read the play 100 times so I have my finger on the rhythm of the show.”

But throwing those funny punches wouldn’t have been easy without the Emerald Pig Theatrical Society’s talented cast.

“My actors came every night prepared to take risks,” says Davis.

“It was a very collaborative process.”

Cast in August, Rumors is an Emerald Pig production that almost didn’t see the spotlight.

After losing its grant from B.C. Gaming this year, the community theatre group was ready to take a short hiatus.

Davis says it was dedicated actors and a community that jumped out of their seats to raise the money that allowed the play to go into production.

The ACT waived its deposit, a cast member wrangled a corporate donation of $750 from CIBC and Emerald Pig’s annual $20 pub fundraiser nearly sold-out.

“It was constantly rattling around in my head – this show needs to go on,” says Davis, who’ll heave a sigh of relief when the curtain opens Nov. 13.

“I don’t think I’d be lying if I said directing this show has been the pinnacle of my theatrical experiences.”

Dinner theatre

Rumours runs five dinner theatre shows on Nov. 13, 14, 15, 20 and 21. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with dinner served at 7 p.m. and the show starting at 8 p.m. All dinner theatre tickets are $45. The menu includes chicken Parmesan or salmon, halibut, rice pilaf and a great vegetarian option. Drinks are available at the bar and complimentary. Coffee will be served at your table. Dessert will be served during the intermission.

Matinees

Rumors will also be performed at matinees on Nov. 14 and 21.

Matinee tickets are $18.T to buy tickets to Rumors, call the ACT box office at 604-476-2787 or buy them online at www.theactmapleridge.org.