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What “Fools” These Mortals Be! |
FOOLS
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So have you ever heard of the village of Chelm? It was created by that master of Yiddish storytelling, Shalom Aleichem (nee Sholem Rabinovich), and immortalized in the Broadway play – THE WORLD OF SHALOM ALEICHEM. Chelm is a mythical town which (according to the story) came into being when an angel who was carrying two bags of souls, one foolish and one wise, accidentally dropped the bag of foolish souls on the earth and created the town where everyone is a fool. It was a town like Chelm where Tevye the milkman lived and raised his five daughters. And like many of us raised in Jewish homes in the 20th Century, Neil Simon, master playwright, probably heard the tales of Chelm as a child. It was to this myth then, that Simon turned when he wrote a play so unlike all the others that he has penned that it seems almost impossible he is the author. Simon did not call the town Chelm, but instead created Kulyenchikov and he did not specifically indicate that the town was full of Jews. The myth of the latter’s creation was centered around a curse not a clumsy angel ----but FOOLS is without a doubt based on Sholem Aleichem’s town. They are both gems of creativity and whimsy and provide us with an evening of solid entertainment, a chance to leave the real world and indulge in a bit of fancy which is a delight! From the moment I entered the Paradise Valley theater, I was enthralled with one of the most imaginative sets I have seen in a very long time. It is a cartoon come to life, colorful and fantastic in the true sense of the word, fantasy. Signs are mixed up with inverted letters, doors are askew in a pleasant way, buildings are topsy turvy and it is every inch a “foolish”setting. This is Kulyenchikov in all its glory. And then enters Tolchinsky the teacher (magnificently played by Eric Schoen), the only resident who can think rationally and make sense. He has come to town to teach Sophia (a lovely performance by Portia Beacham), the beautiful daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Zubritsky (wonderfully portrayed by David Vining and Janet Arnold). Along the way he meets a variety of quirky characters– all of whom do a tremendous job – Joe Kremer as the villain Yousekevitch who perpetuates his great grandfather’s curse, Brian Sweis as Slovitch, Garry Myers as Mishkin, Danette D’Anjou as Yenchna and Tom Rees as the Magistrate. But it is Mike Lawler as the shepherd Snetsky, who take the prize for funniest actor. His comic timing is perfect. The ensemble has been honed to perfection by Director Ben Tyler into a well oiled comedy machine, precise in their gestures and actions and top notch in their characterizations. There is absolutely no way to find fault with this production. It is splendid in every way. Technically, props by Petey Swartz (including some adorable sheep), costumes by Gail Wolfenden-Steib, lights by Dori Brown and sound by Bill Osborne are excellent and I have already mentioned the wonderful set by Thom Gilseth. Simon’s usual wit is ever present and the lines of homey wisdom drop like pearls. Tyler has mined every single gem from the creative script. The actors have just the right sense of playfulness about them and the message of hope and joy which fills the air when the curtain falls is palpable. It is so nice to see a show where you can just simply sit back and enjoy yourself! Of course I guess no critic should overlook a couple of minor faults, which I am sure have already been worked out by the professionals who are presenting this wonderful play. I refer to two things: first, since it was opening night and the first time they had had a live audience, the actors did fail to hold for laughs a few times. Second, the underscore music used in the opening and closing monologues was so loud that it was difficult to hear Schoen as he introduced and then closed the play. That is a shame because he was so excellent. Aside from those two very minor problems, FOOLS is a must see for anyone who loves theater and wants to find a whole new side of Neil Simon. You still have a couple of weekends - don’t miss it!
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