The Salem Community Theatre performance of Neil Simon’s hilarious comedy ‘Fools’ opens Friday night. For many, their involvement is in memory of the late Drama Instructor at Kaskaskia College David Quinn who died unexpectedly last year. Quinn was also involved in the Salem Theatre.
The Director is Dusk Donoho who is directing for the first time.
“This was a nice project for me. I did it in honor of David Quinn who was originally slated to direct the show. I found a passion in directing and really enjoyed it.”
Donoho has been involved in plays at Salem Community High School and under Quinn at Kaskaskia College. She is now working with the drama and music department at Salem Community High School and is a preschool teacher at Central City.
Donoho is encouraging everyone to come out to see the show.
“This is a play taking place in Russia and is about a town cursed with foolishness’. A farce written by Neil Simon and it’s a really good laugh, a family-friendly show and I think everyone will really enjoy.”
Veteran actor Cherokee Ray is playing Gregor Yousevitch.
“I am kind of the main antagonist. My family is responsible for the curse and my whole goal is to marry Sophia and break the curse.”
There is also a new teacher in town Leon Tolchinsky played by Bryce Stanley.
“He is a teacher from Russia who has taken a job in a remote village in Ukraine to teach the doctor’s daughter and he discovers while he is there that nobody is smart. He’s probably the smartest person for miles. And he discovers there is a curse and decides since he loves the girl, he is going to destroy the curse.”
Stanley started in theatre at Salem Community High School and later went to Kaskaskia College. He performed a different role in ‘Fools’ when it was performed at Kaskaskia College by David Quinn.
“He’s the reason why I went back to college. I was ready to stop and asked him if I could come back to do theatre, and it got me going back to classes and got me to graduate.”
In memory of David Quinn, a sash has been placed across three seats directly in front of the stage.
Fools will be performed this Friday and Saturday night at seven, with a matinee at three on Sunday afternoon. Additional performances will be held next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at seven. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students. They are available at the Salem Theatre office, Salem City Hall, or online at salemiltheater.org
