This past November, the Hempfield Area Theatre Company, under the direction of Mr. James Steeley, brought Neil Simon’s hilarious comedy Fools to our auditorium stage. Set in a quirky village full of silly foolishness, and with a wonderfully diverse and energetic cast, the play guaranteed a night filled with laughter, wit, and true love. The talented students who made up the cast and crew led the charge in bringing this story to life. From the actors’ sharp comedic timing to the individuals at work behind the scenes, each student played a vital role in making this production wonderful.
Junior Patrick Krueger shined as the highly educated and enthusiastic schoolteacher Leon Tolchinsky who arrives in the tiny town of Kulyenchkov with dreams of educating everyone, but he quickly changes his ambitions when he falls in love with the lovely Sophia. For Krueger, his show was “a great collaborative experience” with a cast and crew that “really worked well together”. Aside from the fact that “Jaxon’s pants never got fixed,” (ask the cast!), Patrick genuinely cherished all the moments, big and small. “It was rewarding to see everyone come out of their shells throughout the rehearsal process… we were able to make it our own with really silly jokes on and off the stage.”
Senior Ryan Carter brought a fun and comfortable energy to the elderly, but feisty, Magistrate. With his ability to charm the crowd and capture the character’s quirks, Ryan dazzled in his first ever acting role. He didn’t just act, however, but bonded with his cast and crew as well. When asked what his favorite aspect of working on the play was, he responded, “Honestly, my favorite part about the play was interacting with the different members of the cast. Even though I didn’t have too many parts where I interacted with them, working alongside them was very nice. Also, I did do some building with the stage crew and practiced my lines with the others”.
Sophomore Isabella Wilson contributed her wonderful talent and comedic timing to the hilarious role of Lenya Zubritsky. Bella’s fresh perspective to the goofy and overly dramatic character, brought the audience to laughter in every scene. She particularly enjoyed making memories with her friends and getting to act as a character so different from herself. “My favorite part about portraying her (Lenya) was getting to be someone so different from me,” she said, “Lenya is silly, and incredibly dramatic in her movements and dialogue. She was such a fun character to play because of how drastically I could exaggerate my tone, emotions, movement and jokes”. Bella’s approach to Lenya was an essential part of the play’s charm and success.
Adding to these wonderful performances were Sophomore Mitchell Ryan as the eccentric villain, Count Gregor, Junior Jaxxon Chlopek as the dimwitted but loving Dr. Zubritsky, Jill Wansor as the lovely but clueless Sophia, Senior Riley Engler as the hilarious Lenya Zubritsky, and memorable supporting performances by Juniors Alexis Weimer, Ayda Stockdill, Owen Peck, Sophrona Biondi, Lillian Iverson, Peyton Long, Bryson Williams, and Aliyah Lingenfield. Fools also served as the impressive Fall Play debut for Freshman Frankie Cullen, Lillian Custer, Makayla Swanton, and Nadia Lingenfield. With Seniors Alyssa Parker and Heather Harshman as Stage Managers, the shows, according to Parker, were “the best shows and performances I’ve ever seen here”.
With its talented cast, dedicated crew, and the timeless humor of Neil Simon’s Fools, this fall production was a testament to our school community’s creativity and hard work. From start to finish, the play delivered an unforgettable experience that left the audiences laughing, reflecting, and applauding. They may all be fools, but they were our fools, and we loved every minute of it!
