DON'T BE FOOLED: In Bare Bones Theater's production of Neil Simon's comedy,

Fools, Bruce Hollander of East Northport gets pronounced in perfect health by a doctor
played by Tim Dolan, who unfortunately never attended medical school.
Alan Pearlman photo
B B
. "F I"
are ones 00 s on stag'e
By ELISE PEARLMAN He's about to be very disappointed.
The first villager whom he encounters
your
The Bare Bones Repertory Company,
known for dancing to a differenf
drummer in terms of theatrical
choices, begins its run of Neil Simon's
"Fools" this weekend.
You might say that Bare Bones has
really taken it to another level this
time around. "Fools" closed only a
mont h after it opened on Broadway
in 1981. How so? At the time, it
was rumored that Simon was going
through a divorce, and that since
his ex-wife would reap the financial
rewards of this particular show, the
playwright endeavored to write a flop.
But could the man who has been
called the world's most successful and
prolific playwright write a bad play?
While audiences of that day might
not have been ready for a production
that differed so radically from "The
Sunshine Boys" or "The Odd Couple,"
I will tell you that "Fools" glows with
the creative genius for which Simon
has always been known. And, in the
hands of the extraordinarily talented
cast directed by Bare Bones founder
Jeff Bennett, the show is uproariously
funny.
As the play opens, a melody with
a foreign lilt transports you into the
Ukrainian village of Kulyenchikov in
the late 1800s. At first glance, the
provincial village seems nice enough
and akin to what my Russian ancestors
might have known.
Or maybe not.
Enter Leon Tolchinsky (played by
Mike O'Connor of Greenlawn). The
earnest young scholar with a passion
for teaching has come to the remote
village to pursue his first position as a
schoolmaster.
"This is a very auspicious day in my
life," he proclaims, as his heart races
with excitement.
is a shepherd named Snetsky (Robert
Oliver of Northport). Like Little Bo
Peep, Snetsky has lost his sheep, and
from the looks of t hings, most of his
marbles, He asks Leon to give his
itinerant sheep a message for him.
Strangely enough, Snet sky thinks he is
in Poland, and can't seem to remember
his own first name. Has Leon simply
encountered the village idiot?
When Leon observes that the villagers
are lacking in 'mental alertness,' it's
a serious overestimation. Ignorance
may not be not bliss, but it appears
to be the norm in Kulyenchikov. Its
inhabitants are extremely literal,
and basic vocabulary words remain
frustratingly out of reach as if glued to
the tips of their tongues.
If Leon is looking for a brain surgeon,
he is barkingup the wrong genealogical
tree. As he learns from his employer,
Dr. Zubritsky (Tim Dolan) and his wife,
Lenya (Christine Nelson), the cause
of what appears to be an epidemic of
stupidity was a major romantic mishap
dating back 200 years. When. Vladimir
Yousekevitch's son killed himself after
he was forbidden to marry. his love,
Sophia Zubritsky, Vladimir placed a
curse on Kulyenchikov such that those .
who live there are forever destined to
be born and die in ignorance.
Leon unexpectedly falls prey to a
romantic quagmire of his own when
he is introduced to the Zubritskys'
beautiful 19-year-old daughter, also
named Sophia (Lauren Esposito of
East It's love at first sight.
Leon only has 24 hours to lift the
spell by educating Sophia or risk falling
under the curse himself. Confounding
his dilemma is that his rival for
Sophia's hand-in-marriage is the
conniving Count Gregor Yousekevitch
(Continued on p age 15)
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" .
"Fools" take the stage in Northport Village
(Continued from page 11)
(Northport's Tom Rizzuto).
According to Mr. Bennett, the time
was ripe to take a vacation from
serious, edgy theater, and indulge in
something "silly and escapist." His
choice is exemplary.
"While the setting is unique, the
humor and farcical .nature of 'Fools'
definitely makes ' it a piece that our
core audiences will enjoy," Mr. Bennett
said, adding that the show provides
theatergoers with the opportunity to
appreciate the full range of Simon's
comedic sleight-of-hand.
I liken the ' humor to a series of
plates continuously kept spinning,
and hilariously so, by the abundantly
talented cast, each of whom adds
his or her own unique twist.
Adding a little spice is the flirtatious
Yenchna (Sonja Fiala) and the smitten
butcher, Slovitch, played by Scott
McIntyre, seen in Bare Bones' 'Circle
Transformation.' Larry Chorowski of
Northport, who plays the beleaguered
postman, Mishkin, previously
appeared in 'A View from the Bridge.'
Bruce Hollander of East Northport is
the Magistrate. At one point he plays
straight man to great effect when he
is pronounced in perfect health by a
doctor who never attended medical
school.
The show was produced by Stanley
Katz. Performances take place at 8 p.m.
on August 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 and at 7
p.m. on August 12 at the Bare Bones
Theater, 57 Main Street, _Northport.
Buy tickets early as this show is not
to be missed, and will sell out quickly.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased
through Brown Paper Tickets online
a t www.brownpapertickets.comj
event/2526970r by calling 1 (800
838-3006.
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