What happens in a town full of fools? While many audience members might feel the topic to be too close to home, famed American playwright Neil Simon’s Fools addresses the topic with disarming wit, humor, and a subtle underlying message for audiences to ponder long after the curtain closes.  

The Corban University Theatre Department’s production of Simon’s Fools opened with a matinee performance on November 14, and is currently running through Sunday, November 24 in the Psalm Performing Arts Center.  

The play features Ukrainian village, Kulyenchikov, that for 200 years has been cursed with stupidity. Like most folk-tale curses, this one can be lifted by an act of heroism—in this case, either the marriage of a young townswoman to the local count, or by the intervention of a teacher who has 24 hours to successfully educate the same young woman. Much of the play revolves around the interactions between somewhat sane newcomer and educator, Leon, played by Noah Lindhart, and sweet but simple-minded Sophia, played by Neleah Watkins.  

The foolishness of the town of Kulyenchikov is played to great, almost relentless, comedic effect, as witty wordplay and rampant misunderstanding command the stage throughout. For Watkins, the chance to try her hand at comedy has been both nerve-wracking and rewarding—a sentiment shared by many of her castmates.  

Thankfully, the cast is guided by longstanding Corban Theatre director, Tamara McGinnis, who Watkins credits with building her self-belief, guiding her through the script, and helping to bring out her comedic timing through precise direction. “Everyone in this casts wants to make everyone else look good,” Watkins says. “This has been such a positive environment for us to explore and to glorify God in what we do.”  

Through the process, Corban’s cast has discovered comedy to be a highly collaborative effort beyond the high levels of coordination that any drama already commands. Lindhart, who holds the role of Leon, the play’s only “non-foolish” character and bridge to the audience, is eager for playgoers to see the work they’ve done, enjoying both Simon’s clever writing and the unique touches each cast member has brought to the script.  

“I’m excited for the audience to see all the comedic bits that are already written into the play and the stuff that we have characterized on our own,” he says. “Here, everyone is willing to invest in each other. From the tech crew to backstage to the actors, you can tell by the way it flows that we’re all on the same team.” 

Stuffed full of dry wit, zany interactions, and surface-level humor, Director Tamara McGinnis hopes that audiences will also hear the underlying philosophical thoughts that thread directly through the play’s humorous heart. “Silly as the play seems on the surface,” she says, “at the end we are left pondering questions like, ‘What happens to a community when they all believe a lie? Is education the answer to the world’s problems? And what role does love play in community life?’”  

With philosophy as an undercurrent and unhinged humor present from the opening line, Corban’s staging of Fools truly seems to offer something for all theatre-goers—the foolish, the wise, and everyone in between. “I think everyone is going to be laughing nonstop,” says Austin Taylor, who plays the role of Slovitch the Butcher. “This play is fast paced, the jokes are quick, but also there is a lot of subtlety that Simon put into it beyond the comedy.”   

For more information, and to purchase tickets today, visit:
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/corban-university