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FOOLS
By Neil Simon
Directed by Renae Stone
Produced by St. Sebastian Players
At the Basement of St. Bonaventure
1641 W. Diversey
(773) 404-7922
saintsebastianplayers.org
No handicapped access
$15 ($10 for seniors and students)
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 2 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 15 minutes with intermission
Through May 18, 2008
Reviewed by Beverly Friend
If the maxim of great comedy is "It's all in the timing," then St. Sebastian's production of Neil Simon's "Fools" is a prime example of what a skilled troupe can achieve. Under Renae Stone's superb direction, a fine cast brings broadly-depicted caricatures to life in the outrageous, imaginary town of Kulyenchikov, swapping snappy one-liners and pratfalls with equal aplomb.
What a plot -- sheer fantasy! School teacher Leon Tolchinsky (played with innocent charm by Dan Wachter) arrives in a town noted for the stupidity of its inhabitants and strives to unlock the curse that robbed the townspeople of their intelligence. You hear Kulyenchikov, but you should think Chelm -- obviously the model for Simon's Ukraine Village. The site of numerous Yiddish folktales, Chelm has become synonymous with idiocy.
What makes this comedy memorable is that the idiots here are not merely mumbling morons, they are aware of their plight -- and what is lacking in their lives. What the villagers lack in brains they more than compensate for in heart.
Leon has only one day (or 25 hours as these townsmen conceive the length of a day -- or is it a leap year?) to overturn the curse. At the end of that time either it will be lifted or he will lose his own reasoning ability. To achieve the desired goal, Leon must teach the lovely Sophia Zubritsky (Sarah Loveland) to learn something (anything!). Keep in mind that this is a girl who has trouble learning to sit in a chair. The only other solution would be for her wed the villain of the piece, evil Count Gregor Yousekevich (Jason Garvett) -- which is not to be considered as Leon and Sophia are the prerequisite romantic couple.
Meanwhile, dialogue continually skirts the ridiculous:
Question: "What is the purpose of man's existence?"
Answer: "12"
All the silliness -- non sequiturs and malapropisms -- interweave with surprising social commentary on the power of knowledge and the impetus of love.
The entire ensemble is highly skilled. Christina Gorman plays a hilarious shepherdess (always missing her sheep as well as forgetting her first name); Lona Livingston and Torey Adkins are wonderful as Sophia's bumbling parents; Jim Masini, John Oster, Michael Borgmann and Nancy Pollock are cleverly varied in their depictions of the stultifying villagers, and Garvett, with his handlebar moustache, hairy mole, and flashing eyes, nearly steals the show as the diabolical count.
Kudos also to Rocky Hagloch and John Oster for set design and construction -- especially the balcony at stage right where characters climb and descend a provocatively tilted ladder.
While Fools, written in 1981, may not be right up there with Simon's more celebrated earlier works -- "Barefoot in the Park," "The Odd Couple," or "The Sunshine Boys" -- or his many successful plays that followed; the comedy still has distinct charm. The St. Sebastian production provides a treat for the whole audience: initial smiles break into hearty belly laughs.
This concludes St. Sebastian's 27th season which has been dedicated to the memory of SSP member Scott Rosengarden. Season 28 (2008-09) will offer "Moon over Buffalo" (Oct. 17-Nov. 10), "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" (Feb. 13-March 8) and "The Real Thing" (April 24-May 17). Series tickets for the three plays are the best buys in town: $30 for full price, $15 for seniors. You can't beat that!
Recommended
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2008
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