Sequim Gazette staff

The Port Angeles Community Players go off the beaten path and into a town of “Fools” this winter.

The Neil Simon’s fairy tale takes the playhouse stage from Nov. 29-Dec. 15. It follows a zealous teacher, Leon (Zachary Moorman), into the Russian village of Kuyenchikov where people are cursed with stupidity.

As Leon encounters more of the town, he learns the curse comes from Vladimir Yousekevitch, whose son killed himself after being denied to see Sophia Zubritsky, an ancestor of Leon’s new found love Sophia (Makayla Harvey). The town and Sophia can only be saved if she is educated within 24 hours of Leon’s arrival or her marrying a modern day Yousekevitch. It’s up to Leon to outwit the curse and save the town from being forever dummies.

The P.A. Players immerse the audience in Kuyenchikov with bright sets and over-the-top characters.

While the play is a little different from what the players normally do, director Barbara Frederick said it “has a lot of heart to it and is very sweet.”

“It’s really good for the holidays,” she said. “(People) will have a really good time. It’s a a fun experience for all ages. Maybe there’s a little bit of a message but it doesn’t hit you over the head. It just gives you a good feeling.”

Frederick is particularly proud of the wide range of experienced actors and newcomers she’s assembled — playhouse veterans Jonas Brown, Martin Gutowski, Ross Kavanaugh, Josh McLean, and Philip Young, along with newcomers Cody Blevins, Anneliese Russell and Alicia Smith.

For more about the play and playhouse, visit pacommunityplayers.com or call 452-6651.