Hackmatack Playhouse has opened its 38th season with “Rumors,” by comedy master Neil Simon. The premise is simple: a husband (who’s the deputy mayor of New York City) Charlie, and his wife, Myra, are celebrating their 10th anniversary with a party.

Trouble is, when Charlie’s best friend and lawyer Ken Gorman (Tim Robinson) and his wife Chris (DB Cooper) arrive, they discover that Myra and the maid are missing, and that Charlie, after a few Valiums, somehow shot himself in the earlobe. Charlie remains upstairs in his bedroom behind closed doors, while Ken tries to care for him and figure out what happened and, more importantly, what to do. A scandal of this nature would end Charlie’s career, and Ken obviously has a vested interest in making sure that doesn’t happen.

Further complicating things are all the other wealthy, prominent guests that keep arriving at the house. Charlie’s accountant, Lenny Ganz (Stephen Dascoulias), who arrives with his wife, Claire (Autumn Allen), is quick to smell a rat. But Ken makes Chris swear to secrecy, at least until he gets Charlie to tell him what happened. Next to arrive are psychiatrist Ernie Cusack (Alan Huisman) and wife Cookie (Sarah Marschener), who has her own cooking show. Last to arrive are Glen and Cassie Cooper (real-life newlyweds Jay and Katie Rodger). Glen is running for state senate and his wife is a super-jealous, crystal-wielding woman. If Glen is there when the scandal breaks, the fecal matter will really hit the cooling system.

Like any opening weekend, there are highs and lows. Tim Robinson, as the best friend, had the task of setting the pace of the piece, having found Charlie at the play’s opening. He begins the play with his anxiety level cranked all the way up to 10. As the catastrophes begin to pile up, he’s got no choice but to crank it up even higher, reaching a level that makes his character less believable than the others.

Conversely, as his wife, DB Cooper started with an anxiety level of five and stayed there. Even when she told Claire that she was simply bursting to tell her something, she seemed about as bursting as if she were about to give her a bad weather report. But the makings of both characters are there. If Robinson tones it down and Cooper cranks it up, both humor and balance could easily be restored.

The rest of the ensemble, under the direction of Sharon Hilton, did a fabulous job of taking Simon’s very demanding piece and finding its tempo, almost like a verbal ballet. The Rodgers are convincing as a gorgeous young couple who are at each other’s throats. Huisman and Marschener seem like they’ve been married for so many ages that he practically feels her back spasms before she has them. And Dascoulias and Allen make their characters seem like they’ve been working so hard that they’ve forgotten just how in love they really are.

The brilliant Dascoulias and the adorable Allen truly made the tale leap to life. Dascoulias never misses an opportunity to bring laughter out of the situation, and Allen has cleverly disguised herself as a ditz, but soon it’s apparent that this ditz doesn’t miss a trick. The dichotomy is endearing, as are her melting expressions when her husband, supposedly speaking for someone else, clearly lets her know just how much he loves her. 

For my money, the highlight of the evening is Huisman sparking up the dance floor to “Thriller” as the cops are knocking on the door. Also, kudos to Alex Nicosia, who not only masters the New York accent but intimidates to the bone as Officer Welch. There are many jewels in this ensemble, and you can watch them shine at the Playhouse.

‘Rumors’ runs through Saturday, July 5, at Hackmatack Playhouse, 538 School St., Berwick, Maine. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Thursday. Call 207-698-1807 for reservations.