Word: kulyenchikov
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Dates: during 1981-1981
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Neil Simon has set his latest play in a kind of Anatevka-cum-Brigadoon locale. The town is called Kulyenchikov, and its inhabitants are Russian villagers. In Brigadoon, time stood still except for a day; in Kulyenchikov, minds stand still every minute. The natives are under a "long ago" curse damning them to stupidity...
...young schoolteacher (John Rubinstein) comes to Kulyenchikov. Smitten by Reed, he is swept into a kind of "Romeo and Wooliet" romance and lifts the village curse through true love. Rubinstein is an ardent and vastly sympathetic performer, but neither he nor the deft comic ministrations of Director Mike Nichols can salvage this show. For whatever it may mean, Simon's two weakest efforts in 19 plays have a Russian connection, The Good Doctor, a kind of Chekhovian doodle, and now Fools. When next tempted in that direction, he should probably say nyet. -By T.E. Kalem
...fact is that neither Blacks nor the residents of Kulyenchikov caused their own problems. It was society that imposed obstacles to education of American minorities, and society must now make up for lost time. The problem is that Leon and American institutions have been going about affirmative action for the wrong reasons...
...realization of his bonds to all the citizens in addition to his sexual attraction to Sophia finally leads Leon back to Kulyenchikov. Leon grows to love the residents as individuals. As long as he thinks the ignorant are freaks, he cannot begin to help them...
...Sophia falls in love with Leon, thus supplying the connection that removes the 200 year-old curse, and allowing Simon fans to walk out of the theater happy. And the story doesn't finish there. When ignorance has been conquered, a new society evolves in Kulyenchikov with different problems. The innocent fish vendor becomes an insufferable capitalist, and Sophia is no longer willing to accept Leon's opinions at face value. But life is now fuller for everyone in Kulyenchikov. There can be no going back...