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The Post-Standard News
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May 06, 2003 Simon's silliest comedy closes Appleseed season Joan Vadeboncoeur, Entertainment Columnist "What is the meaning of life?," asks a character in "Fools." After much cogitation, the answer comes, "12." It's the best example of the humor in Neil Simon's silliest comedy, which Appleseed Productions has mounted as its closing attraction of the season. What makes the nonsense succeed is that it is good-natured fun, played with expertise by the cast and directed with fondness for the work by Greg J. Hipius. Hipius has crafted the production from the moment theatergoers enter the door where a sign proclaims "Kulyenchikov. Population. Yes." Circling the tables are Boris, who insists he's the village tavern owner while cuffed by his mother, Olga, who actually owns the establishment. Arriving soon is Leon, the new, first-time schoolteacher, who soon learns he has been preceded by thousands, although that number may be incorrect since hundreds is more than thousands in Kulyenchikov. That is because the Ukrainian settlement has been cursed with wall-to-wall stupidity. Nonetheless, one look at Sofia, daughter of the all-purpose doctor-dentist, and he's smitten, which makes him determined to win her hand in marriage. There's a hitch - Sofia must be educated to lift the curse. Or, she can wed the count whose family placed the spell. But that, too, has its drawbacks. Tom Ciancaglini sets the pace as the teacher and maintains it as he's drawn into the villagers' life, yet must remain one step ahead of them and a heartbeat apart. All of the supporting cast does yeoman work, although a few falter briefly along the way, but never to the point of ruining the delicate balance that has been struck by director Hipius. However, Simon concocted a scene-stealing role - and one that brings the audience into play - with the count, acted to the comic hilt by Mark Allen Hol © 2003 The Post-Standard. |
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