About Arlene Schulman Expertise A professional stage director and dramaturg, I`m familiar with many plays of various types. I am particularly familiar with the plays of such playwrights as Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams and Neil Simon, and the musicals of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Sondheim, Jerry Herman and many other musicals, particularly those if the "Golden Age" before 1975. I am experienced in both staging and acting in comedy, drama and musicals, and can give you historical and staging information for most plays.
Experience A professional stage director and dramaturg for over 25 years in the NYC/NJ area, I have directed and acted in over a hundred plays and musicals of all kinds. I have a huge theatre library and access to info on just about any play or musical, both historically and for staging purposes.
Question I hope you get this ASAP because that when i need it. What are the givens and background of Neil Simons play Fools. Please and Thank you!
Answer Hi Kenton,
Not sure exactly what information you need or for what purpose, but here is the synopsis and particulars from Samuel French (the publisher of the play)...
"Leon Tolchinsky is ecstatic. He's landed a terrific teaching job in an idyllic Russian hamlet. When he arrives he finds people sweping dust from the stoops back into their houses and people milking upside down to get more cream. The town has been cursed with chronic stupidity for 200 years and Leon's job is to break the curse. No one tells him that if he stays over 24 hours and fails to break the curse, he becomes stupid too. Why doesn't Leon leave? He has fallen in love with a girl so stupid that she has only recently learned how to sit down. Of course, Leon breaks the curse and gets the girl."
A review by CBS-TV called it "the brightestm, freshest, funniest, wittiest, warmest and happiest to=do on Broadway in many a day."
The cast is 7 men and 3 women. The play has an interior/exterior set. Royalties (through French) are $75 per performance. Music royalty is $10 per performance. Music tape from the Broadway production is available for a $10 rental fee with a $25 refundable deposit.
