European Jewish folk tradition has long told of Chelm, the city of fools, but American playwright Neil Simon took the idea and turned it into modern play about love in the face of stupidity. Fools, Simon's 1981 comedy, plays Dec. 14-Jan. 20 at the Blue Sphere Alliance at the Lex. The company's artistic director Anthony Barnao directs.

When schoolmaster Leon arrives in the tiny Ukrainian village of Kulyenchikov, he is just another teacher attempting to cut through the cursed thick-headedness of the people who live there. He falls in love with one of the sweet (although stupid) maidens, but she's already engaged to be married to Count Gregor, an evil nobleman who is tied up in the hex that has rendered Kulyenchikov brainless. Simon's best known works include The Odd Couple, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Lost in Yonkers and The Sunshine Boys.

Fools features Jay Anthony, Earl Carroll, Kate Connor, Chris Devlin, Rich Embardo, Andy Hirsch, Scott McClain, Marsha Meyers, Pamela Morris and Paul Zegler.

Tickets are $15. The Lex Theater is located at 6760 Lexington Theater in Hollywood. For reservations, call (323) 957-5782.

— By Christine Ehren