PENDLETON — In the town of Kulyenchikov, everyone lives under the curse of idiocy until one man decides to break it for the sake of love.

That is the basic plot of Neil Simon’s classic comedy, “Fools,” and College Community Theatre is bringing it to life on the Bob Clapp Theatre in Pendleton at Blue Mountain Community College.

The show opens with a pay-what-you-can preview night on Thursday, Feb. 20. Tickets for this performance are by donation, and seating is first-come, first-served. Tickets for the remaining shows are reserved seating.

Fools runs Feb. 20 through March 2 with shows beginning at 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays.

Buy tickets and find more information at www.collegecommunitytheatre.com.

In the CCT production of “Fools,” Christian Quinlin plays Leon Tolchinsky, a teacher sent to tutor one of the young townswomen only to discover foolishness running rampant in Kulyenchikov.

For Quinlin, it’s a dream role.

“When I heard that I was offered the role of Leon, I was speechless — and if you know me, that’s not something you hear often,” he said. “This is the first play I ever read. It’s been one of my favorites since I read it, and Leon has been a dream role of mine since 2014. To have the opportunity of bringing to life that I care so much about with a cast that I couldn’t be more grateful for — I’m still in shock that this is real!”

Joining Quinlin is a cast of nine other actors — and one personified broom — that make up the residents of Kulyenchikov. Maycee M plays his love interest, Sophia Zubritsky.

“Sophia is a hopeful dreamer. She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to speak from the heart. Playing her has been a breath of fresh air! She moves through life with an unabashed curiosity, and I’ve enjoyed getting to experience that,” she said.

The cast also includes the Magistrate (Jacob Jeffs), Mishkin the postman (Ellen Paulsen), Snetsky the shepherd (Tiago Perez), Slovitch the butcher (Nicholas Jennings) and Yenchna the vendor (Esra Burnette). Amy Velho and Rick Pullen take on the roles of Sophia’s parents, Lenya and Dr. Zubritsky, and Chris Dennett is the villainous Count Gregor Yousekevitch.

“Villains are my favorite roles to play. This one is particularly fun,” Dennett said. “The way that other actors make their characters react to the villain is one of the best parts of playing the villain.”

Although Leon and Sophia do come out victorious at the end, audiences will have to come out in person to see how they best Count Yousekevitch. Maycee said it will be worth the time.

“‘Fools’ is charming and light-hearted. I think we could all use a little escapism right now, especially into a world that is filled with hope and the ability to overcome what may feel insurmountable,” Maycee said.

“Fools” is directed by Jake Kuwahara, of Walla Walla, and Marie Pratuch, of Pendleton.