There is a lot of foolishness going on at the Butler Little Theatre as cast and crew prepare to stage “Fools” by Neil Simon. The show opens May 13.

A 200-year-old curse of chronic stupidity makes the Russian town of Kulyenchikov a haven for hilarity.

The secret to breaking the curse is kept from the only one who can break it, and the outcome is anyone's guess. In this place there's not just one village idiot.

The show is under the direction of Butler Little Theatre veteran, Bob Dandoy of Butler, who has always been a huge Simon fan.

“I've had the opportunity to either direct or act in about a dozen of Neil Simon's plays and I've always had great success and enjoyed the experience,” Dandoy said.

He is confident in his cast which features some long time theater friends and some new faces.

“They're all very funny. I'm just sitting back, adjusting here and there, and going along on their wonderful ride,” said Dandoy, who last shared the stage with one of his cast, Bill Geibel, in the comedic “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” with the Musical Theatre Guild.

Making an appearance after a hiatus of more than four years from the BLT will be Bill Geibel of Penn Township. He will fill the roll of Dr. Zubritsky.

“He (Zubritsky) is the village doctor who, along with his wife Lenya, is trying to find someone to educate his daughter, Sophia,” Geibel said.

“The doctor, like everyone else in the village, is incredibly stupid, but in a nice sort of way,” he added.

Geibel auditioned for the show after reading the script and laughing out loud, he said.

“The director is a longtime friend, so I knew I would have a lot of fun if I was fortunate enough to be offered a part,” Geibel said.

His wife is portrayed by Stephanie Kobil of Butler Township, who recently appeared in MTG's “Sweeney Todd.”

“Lenya, the mother of Sophia, is a kind woman who cares deeply for her husband and daughter,” Kobil said.

Kobil said she loves to make people laugh and was eager to audition for this lighthearted comedy where timing is everything.

“The timing of line delivery is made more complex because of the (large) size of the cast,” said Kobil who is busy working on a faint Russian accent as well.

“The hardest part is to stay in character and not laugh while we are rehearsing. The other actors are so funny that it is hard to stay focused.”

Their daughter Sophia has captured the attention of her teacher, Leon Tolchinsky, played by Phillip Ball of Butler Township.

Ball, who is familiar with comedy, finds himself on the other end of the laugh game this time.

“Its hard being the straight man in a comedy. I want to join in the silliness but it isn't my part to do that. I just need to make sure my reactions are enough and not too big or zany,” Ball said.

Sue Switzer of Center Township plays Yenchna, a street vendor, who is part of the town curse.

“Yenchna, like all of the townsfolk, is cursed with stupidity. Unlike some of the townspeople who are apologetic about their lack of intelligence, Yenchna seems to embrace it and becomes mildly indignant when others question her obvious departures from fact,” Switzer said.

Comedic timing is also a matter of concentration for Switzer.

“Rather than drawing out lines for impact, emotion or drama, this play required rapid fire delivery. It is very fast paced so you have to be on the alert for your cue lines,” she said.

Newcomer to the BLT Rik Medic, a sixth grade teacher at Deer Lakes Middle School, takes on the role of Something Something Snetsky.

“I don't think that I am anything like Snetsky in real life, although my students may beg to differ,” Medic said.

His challenge in this production is more of a physical one than an acting one, he said.

“I am currently having trouble using a ram's horn and a walking stick at the same time, but I assume I'll have it mastered by opening night,” he explained about his role of shepherd.

Also starring in the show are Greg Crawford, Megan Flannery, Dan McCarty, T.J. McMeekin and Dean Weiland.

<B>WHO: </B>Butler Little Theatre<B>WHAT: </B>“Fools” by Neil Simon<B>WHEN: </B>May 13 to 21 at 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.<B>WHERE: </B>One Howard St.<B>TICKETS: </B>$10, available by calling 724-287-6781 between 7 and 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.<B>INFO: </B>www.bltgroup.org