Photo Flash: First Look at Bergen County Players' FOOLS

As part of its 80th season celebration, Bergen County Players (BCP) will present Neil Simon's FOOLS, a light, frothy, fairy tale for adults featuring Simon's brilliant use of vaudeville, slapstick, puns and wordplay. Under the direction of Iris Weinhouse, FOOLS will be performed at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell now through November 10th. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

FOOLS opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neil Theatre on April 6, 1981. Neil Simon described his play as a "comic fable" – it is a lighthearted simple show making it a wonderful family treat.

FOOLS take place in 1891 in a simple, remote Ukrainian village. The young and eager Leon Tolchinsky (Matthew Rofofsky of Fort Lee) arrives at Kulyenchikov to answer an ad for a new schoolteacher. To his surprise he learns that the village suffers from a 200 year old curse of stupidity. To break the curse, Leon must educate Sophia (Kelly Camp-Force of Wayne) , the lovely daughter of Dr. Zubritsky (James Lesko of Englewood) and his wife, Lenya (Michele Blum of Oakland). If Leon cannot educate her within 24 hours of his arrival, he too will fall victim to the curse. Come meet all the colorful town characters: Snetsky, the Shepherd (Bob Rizzotti of Waldwick); The Magistrate (Peter Caust of Glen Rock); Slovitch, The Butcher (John Villa of Franklin Lakes); Mishkin, The Mailman (Harry Bates of New Milford); Yenchna, The Vendor (Andrea Pieper of New Milford); and Count Gregor Yousekevitch (Seth Kaplan of River Vale).

The production team includes director Iris Weinhouse from Hillsdale, a life member of BCP. Previously, Weinhouse directed Lovers and Other Strangers, The Bermuda Avenue Triangle and The Cocktail Hour. She has performed for BCP in Arsenic and Old Lace (Aunt Abby) and Little Foxes (Birdie). Other production team members include Rhea Smith (Producer); Paul Reitnauer (Stage Manager); Michael Smith (Set Design and Construction); Ray Poquette (Lighting Designer); Rob DeScherer (Sound Designer); Cliff Dreispan (Sound Operation); Anne Giesemann (Light Operation); Kathleen Ruland (Asst. to the Director): Jim DeBlasi (Publicity); Bunny Mateosian and Michele Roth (Costumes); Ellyn Essig (Décor); Michael Smith (Photography); Joanne Guarnaccia (Make-up and Crew); Leigh Adel-Arnold and Chris Nelson Program Notes & Bios); Lisa Dahlborg (Props and Crew); and Eileen Winkler (Member at Large).

BCP will continue to offer a "Questions & Artists" (Q & A) discussion following select performances. FOOLS Q & A will take place immediately following the October 26th performance. Admission is included in the ticket price.

Shows will be on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets may be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200 or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours. Tickets are $20 on Friday and Saturday and $16 on Sunday.

The Bergen County Players has grown tremendously from its roots as a small community theater when it was founded in 1932; today, nearly 300 volunteer members, working on and off stage, make possible the nine productions presented each season. The remaining season includes: RAPUNZEL (Nov. 24-Dec. 16); THE PRICE (Jan.12 – Feb. 2, 2013); BEEHIVE (Feb. 16-Mar. 9, 2013); BETTER LATE (Mar. 23-Apr. 20, 2013); BOEING – BOEING (May 4- Jun. 2, 2013). Second Stage productions include: THE AUTOGRAPH HOUND (Jan. 26-27,2013) and THE SING ALONG SOUND OF MUSIC (Jun. 21-23, 2013).

Further information can be found at www.bcplayers.org.

Photo Credit: Michael Smith