Complete Synopsis

Fools

A Complete Synopsis

Act One

The play opens in the small Ukrainian village of Kulyenchikov around 1890, where we meet Leon Tolchinsky, an eager young schoolteacher arriving for his first post. He quickly discovers that the entire village suffers under a mysterious “stupidity curse”—for 200 years, every villager has been unable to learn or hold onto knowledge for more than a few moments. They forget basic facts, misinterpret questions, and cheerfully accept their ignorance as normal.

Leon meets the village doctor (Dr. Zubritsky) and his wife (Lenya), who are good-natured but hilariously dim-witted. They explain the curse to him: it began long ago when a villager refused to marry into the powerful Yousekevitch family. Since then, every citizen of Kulyenchikov is condemned to idiocy. Leon also learns about the doctor’s daughter, Sophia Zubritsky, who, despite being beautiful and kind, is as scatterbrained as the rest.

Leon is immediately smitten with Sophia and vows to break the curse by educating her. If he can teach her something within 24 hours, the curse will be lifted. If he fails, however, he himself will fall victim to the curse and become as foolish as everyone else. Meanwhile, the villain of the piece, Count Gregor Yousekevitch (descendant of the family that placed the curse), is determined to marry Sophia. He constantly proposes, only to be rejected in delightfully comic ways. Gregor reveals that unless Sophia marries him within 24 hours, Leon will succumb to the curse permanently.

The act is filled with Leon’s frantic attempts to teach Sophia even the simplest facts—what her name is, how to count, or the difference between left and right. Despite her goodheartedness, Sophia can’t retain anything, and Leon begins to despair. Still, his determination and budding love for her keep him pressing forward. The act closes with the stakes high: Leon has only one day to succeed, or he too will be trapped in eternal foolishness.

Act Two

As Act II begins, Leon continues his desperate teaching efforts, trying every method imaginable to help Sophia retain knowledge. The comedy heightens as Sophia struggles hilariously to grasp the simplest concepts, yet her sweetness and openness deepen the audience’s sympathy for her. Leon’s affection grows, and Sophia begins to fall for him as well, though she can’t fully articulate her feelings with any clarity.

Count Gregor keeps reappearing, attempting to pressure Sophia into marriage, gloating that Leon’s time is running out. The villagers, meanwhile, cheer Leon on but are hopelessly unhelpful—every attempt to assist him only reinforces the absurdity of the curse. Their logic-defying antics—such as proudly misidentifying animals, places, or even themselves—show Leon what he’s up against.

Just as Leon begins to despair completely, he has a revelation. He realizes that the only way to break the curse is not through teaching facts, but through love. If Sophia can truly choose to love someone freely, it will undo the original wrong and lift the curse. Leon proposes to Sophia, and though she is initially confused, she recognizes her genuine feelings for him. She accepts, and in that moment the curse is broken.

Instantly, the villagers become intelligent, articulate, and self-aware. Sophia herself blossoms into a fully educated, insightful woman—though she retains her warmth and charm. Count Gregor is defeated, left sputtering as the community celebrates its freedom from foolishness. Leon and Sophia are united in love, the villagers rejoice in their newfound clarity, and the play closes with Simon’s trademark blend of wit, irony, and romantic optimism.