Candlewick Productions is dipping into a rich well of lighthearted and comedic works for its upcoming play.
The theatre troupe is bringing Neil Simon’s Fools to the stage at the Kenmor Theatre in Morden April 17-18, with funds from the production going to help support improvements at the historic building.
“This one kind of ticks all the right boxes,” suggested director Richard Klassen. “It’s fun, it’s energetic, and there’s lots of comedy in the piece, and it’s something for the whole family.”
There will be a lot of the usual suspects in the cast along with a few other new faces.
“There’s a good variety,” said Klassen. “Overall, I’ve got a lot of actors who have been involved in different shows over the years … this may be the first time that all of them have worked together with each other.”
He noted there is a newcomer in Jim Robson, while Joel and Erin Klassen are playing the doctor and his wife, and Bailey Zacharias is getting back into theatre with the leading role of Leon.
“It’s been a few years since he has been on stage, but he’s making his comeback, so that’s great,” said Klassen.
Set in the late 19th-century Ukrainian village of Kulyenchikov where the entire community has been cursed with chronic stupidity for 200 years, the story follows Leon Tolchinsky, a schoolteacher hired to educate Sophia Zubritsky, the daughter of the town doctor.
As Leon attempts to break the curse, he falls in love with Sophia, but the only way to break the curse is to educate her, which proves impossible.
“The play explores themes of folly versus wisdom, the impact of education and the role of love in breaking free from ignorance,” said Klassen. “Fools is a whimsical fable that has been performed in various regional and international revivals for its family-friendly appeal.”
Jeff Franz plays a character named Snetzky, and he was drawn to be involved in this play because it was one he had previously had a crack at when it was put on by the Garden Valley Collegiate drama group.
“I really, really enjoyed it, so when I heard that Richard might be doing it again, I instantly thought I wanted to do it,” said Franz.
He noted Neil Simon was an excellent playwright, and his plays have lasting appeal, even though he apparently didn’t think Fools was his best work.
Franz’s role as a shepherd who cannot find his sheep was a good fit for him.
“He’s doing his very best to find the one thing that he is supposed to be doing,” he said. “I had enough going on right now that I didn’t have room for something that was going to be too much time. It’s a relatively light play. It’s quick; it’s written well … and my character has just enough scenes that it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
And Franz expressed his admiration for the cast and how there are so many talented people to draw on in this area.
“We have an excellent cast,” he said, citing the example of Zacharias especially having a big task.
“Bailey playing Leon has an enormous amount of work to do. He’s on stage almost the whole show, and he’s just doing a fabulous job.”
Candlewick last month featured the local bands The Bare Yogis and the Brian Jacob’s Band as part of the series of fundraisers for the Kenmor. Further down the road, on June 12, there will be a show by comedian Matt Falk.
Tickets are available via e-mail to tickets@candlewick.ca with a specific request along with your name and contact. You can also go online to www.candlewick.ca/take-a-seat-fundraising-events, or call the box office at 204-822-7469.
