Simon’s ‘Rumors’ Becomes a Reality

The Scene: The opening of Neil Simon’s farce, “Rumors,” the last offering of the season for the Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson at the Doolittle series, on Thursday night. Despite humidity levels more attuned to a turgid Tennessee Williams drama than a stage souffle, guests braved the muggy weather and enjoyed themselves afterward at the nearby Columbia Bar & Grill.

Who Was There: Playwright Simon and director Gene Saks welcomed Lucie Arnaz and Laurence Luckinbill, Conrad Bain, Polly Bergen, Red Buttons, Robert Culp, Linda Hamilton, Earl Holliman, Cloris Leachman, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ed McMahon, Ann Miller, Rita Moreno, John Raitt, Rachel Rosenthal, Isabel Sanford, Natalie Schafer, Renee Taylor, Joan Van Ark and John Marshall, John Van de Kamp, Joyce Van Patten, Esther Williams, Jane Withers and Joanne Worley. Music Center stalwarts included Lawrence Ramer, Nancy and Alan Livingston, and Esther and Tom Wachtell.

Dress Code: Lightweight summer suits and dresses. Those who wore the least looked the most comfortable.

Fashion Statements: Jayne Meadows in bright purple with matching pumps and white Jackie Kennedy gloves.

Toasted: CTG artistic director Gordon Davidson, saluting the underwriters of the party, the New York Times, said of the out-of-town newspaper: “It’s such a pleasure to be able to get the paper every morning and not have to worry about the reviews.”

Quoted: “This is the first play I’ve ever had the chance to rewrite after it opened in New York,” said Simon. As to his most recent play, “Jake’s Women,” which recently closed in San Diego before making it to Broadway, he said: “I don’t think about it. It’s over with. I’ve got two movies coming up and a new play opening on Broadway in the fall.”

Triumphs: The air conditioning at the Columbia Bar & Grill.

Glitches: Car troubles. A gold BMW malfunctioned and had to be towed away from the front of the restaurant. Also, as cast member Peggy Pope ran in, distraught, photographers tried to take her picture as she wailed, “I’ve locked my keys in my car.” She searched the coat racks for a wire hanger, but they yielded only good wooden hangers.

Overheard: “He’s too cute to be an agent,” marveled one guest at the bar.