From the moment I took over the theater department, I knew that Neil Simon's Fools was going to be the first Fall play, not only because the show is a great satire on humanity's longing to be free while simultaneously, and freely, we put ourselves in societal chains, but because it was the first show I did with my high school theater department. It was this show that taught me about the nature of comedy and the power it has to enlighten us all.
This show is not considered one of Neil Simon's greatest works. It did horribly on Broadway, closing after only 40 performances. It was not well received, and it is one of his least produced plays. It is even 'rumored' that Neil Simon purposely wrote this play poorly. Before he wrote Fools, he and his wife divorced, and it was decided in the divorce papers that she would receive a portion of the profits from his next show, whatever that show was to be. The rumor is he wrote the show poorly so that she wouldn't get a big portion of the ticket sales. Whether the story is actually true or not, the humor behind it can't be ignored. In fact, the tall tale inadvertently serves to enhance the story. Who is the true fool? Did Simon fool us all by writing the show as 'poorly' as he did? Did he fool his ex-wife by making sure his show would not be a monetary success? Who knows?
So, why did I pick a show like this instead of a blockbuster play like The Crucible or A Doll's House? Simple, the show is funny with an encouraging message at the heart of it. When the world tells us we are foolish, we have no worth, we are unitelligent, we then have a choice. We can choose to believe the world, its message that we are 'cursed', or we can make a choice to believe that we have value, worth, and can add something positive and amazing to this mixed up and crazy life filled with 'fools' who are just like us. Fools who dream big enough to believe they can make a difference. Fools who teach in schools, who want to educate young minds even though they always wonder if they are truly making an impact on their students. Fools who stand up to bullies even though they'll get beat down or made fun of for doing the right thing. Fools who start businesses even though people tell them they will surely fail. Fools that serve and protect our community even though they know not all can be protected. Fools who just want to matter while they are on this earth. We need fools like that, and I think that is one of the major themes of this play. We are all fools, but being a fool for the sake of love is never a foolish thing.
That message resinates in this comedic fable, and comedy is much more difficult than drama. I think that's because comedy requires a risk, as risk to be foolish and to fail, but it's a great failure, because comedy is an attempt to give insight into the human experience in a way that can be easily digested and accepted. And it is in that spirit I dedicate this show to one of my high school drama teachers, Alan Garner, who taught me about the magic of comedy and encouraged me always to be a fool.
Brandon Triola
PVHS Theatre Director
