RIVERSIDE PLAYERS GET SERIOUS ABOUT 'FOOLS'

Everyone in the nineteenth-century Ukrainian village of Kulyenchikov is stupid, thanks to a 200-year-old nurse...er, curse!

The River City Players are bringing Kulyenchikov and its dimwitted residents to life at the River City Yacht Club above the Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant on the Cape Girardeau water front, in Neil Simon's "Fools."

The 1981 comedy features three Jackson residents in the cast, as well as co-director Ann Swanson. "Fools" will open Friday, with dinner theatre productions August 13, 14, 20 and 21 and a show only on August 18.

The play centers around Leon Tolchinsky, an immodest young school teacher who arrives in Kulyenchikov, eager to assume his duties. He is quickly informed that a terrible nurse...make that hearse...no, curse has caused the villagers to be imbeciles for the past 200 years. At first Leon scoffs at the curse. After meeting several of the leading villagers, though, he has to admit his work is cut out for him.

The curse winds up centering around Sophia Zubritsky, the lovely young daughter of the village doctor. If Leon can improve her intelligence in one day, the curse will be lifted. The only other way to end the curse is for her to marry the last of the Yousekevitches -- the feared and despised Count Gregor. Things get more complicated, though, as the young teacher falls madly in love with Sophia. Although his hopes of awakening a glimmer of intellect in her withers, he opts to stay with her in Kulyenchikov -- even at the risk of losing his own intelligence, via the curse.

In the end Leon gets Sophia and the nurse ... er, curse is lifted.

Although this review is based on a very early run-through by the cast (more than a week before its opening night), the River City Players appear to have another winner on their hands. With thick Ukrainian accents already mastered, the brilliantly stupid Simon characters come to life charmingly.

The play is centered on the teacher, Leon, played by David Hopper. Hopper has the lion's share of lines in "Fools" and is on stage virtually every minute of the production. The youthful Sophia is played by Sara Semmler, while her parents, Dr. Zubritsky and Leyna Zubritsky are played by real-life husband and wife Jeff and LeAnne Statler. The burly Count Gregor is played by Champ Friend. Jacksonites include David Koeller as Snetsky the Shepherd, Terri Tate as Yenchna the Vendor and Mike Manning as the magistrate. Nick Ryan plays Slovitch the Butcher and Joe Gibbs Mishkin the Mailman. All of the actors were well adjusted to their characters at this early stage in rehearsals and appear ready to turn in strong performances.

The dialogue is cute and, at times, hilarious. Simon's simpletons espouse a homespun illogic reminiscent of the classic television sit-coin Green Acres. The cast appears more than capable of mastering the comic timing of the Kulyenchikov nonsense.

Swanson's co-director is Marthy Koeller. Charlie Kent and Swanson are handling set design and construction, while Dolly Dambach is assisting with costumes and Marvin Swanson and Bill Myers with properties. Emily Johnson serves as stage managers. Luda King and Nadzeya Aleinikova add a special touch as dialect consultants.

Doors open for the dinner theatre performances at 6 p.m. The meal will be served at 7 p.m., with the performance beginning about 8 p.m. The price is $18.50. The August 18 performance will be at 7 p.m. The price is $6.