Viewers beware, Olympic Theatre Arts’ upcoming show “Fools” may cause a laughing spell.
“This play to me has been one of the most fun plays I’ve ever done,” said Vince Campbell, who plays Dr. Nikolai Zubritsky.
“The atmosphere from start to end has just been fun. Everybody’s been laughing through the whole production.”
Campbell and other cast members play residents of small-town Kulyenchikov afflicted with a 200-year curse of chronic stupidity.
Steve Fisher directs Neil Simon’s “Fools” for three weekends March 7-23 at 7 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, with a free preview night at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6.
Tickets are $20 for general audiences and $15 for students at olympictheatrearts.org, or by calling the box office 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays.
In the show, new teacher Leon Tolchinsky, played by Colby Thomas, is excited to start his new job but soon finds townspeople sweeping dust into homes and milking cows upside down to get more cream.
He’s tasked with breaking the curse but if he stays more than 24 hours in town and the curse isn’t broken, he becomes a fool, too. Leon is also conflicted because he’s fallen for the doctor’s daughter Sophia (Deanna Eickhoff).
Thomas, last seen in OTA’s “The Nerd” in 2023, said he’s appeared in many comedies as someone delivering the punchlines.
“In this one, it’s really fun to be the straight man (and) set other people up to make a joke,” he said.
“Obviously, Leon has some jokes, but really his humor comes from how futile all of his efforts seem in this town.”
Thomas said he performed in Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park” in high school and felt this was a good opportunity to become more exposed to his work.
“Fools” was chosen as OTA’s Members’ Choice for 2025 from three different scripts.
Campbell said everyone — from the actors to the stage crew — have contributed something to make the show better.
On the set design, led by Suzan Noyes, Campbell said “when you look at it, you can tell there’s something askew.”
“All the angles are off and if you look at the windows, the windows are off,” he said.
“But as the director keeps telling us, these people are stupid, but they’re happy.”
Campbell, who was acting in OTA’s first Readers Theatre show “On Golden Pond” last weekend, said they’ve appreciated freedoms given from Fisher for the show, such as being able to use a different voice for a line, or the movements on stage being more free.
“(Fisher) also has some insane ideas,” Campbell said.
He also serves as assistant director for Fisher and said he loves Simon’s style of writing.
“I’m from New York originally so that tempo and beat I can hear when I read the play,” Campbell said.
“I hear the voices in my head because it’s always that New York tempo and that New York dialect.”
For audience-goers, Campbell said people will enjoy the world play.
“There’s a lot of quick repartee back and forth, and we’re trying to get the timing down so that it really works,” he said. “I think it’s gonna be well received and it’s going to be a very funny play.”
“Fools”
Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave.
March 7-23
7 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays
Free preview night 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6
Tickets: olympictheatrearts.org, or by calling the box office 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Will a 200-year stupidity curse be broken in Kulyenchikov? Olympic Theatre Arts’ “Fools” brings the comedic tale to life March 7-23 with cast members, including, from left, Carolyn Edge as Mishkin, Karen Twight as Yenchna, Jason Yormark as Slovitch, Joe Schulz as Snetsky, Ken Burland as the Magistrate, Deanna Eickhoff as Sophia, Colby Thomas as Leon, Joodie Klinke as Lenya, Vince Campbell as Doctor Zubritsky, and Shaun Hughbanks as Count Gregor.
