From the Playwright
“On a recent family vacation to Puerto Rico, I was unsettled by the luxury and opulence of our resort. In a place designed for relaxation, I couldn’t get comfortable. I wanted to unpack that discomfort and see what I’d find. The first few scenes of Fools’ Paradise were drafted on the plane home.” – Jonathan Winn
When Things Fall Apart
Are people naturally cooperative, or do they descend into self-interest when the world around them begins to unravel? When Things Fall Apart, an episode of NPR’s Throughline, was a key inspiration for Fools’ Paradise. It explores these contrasting worldviews and how they continue to shape our understanding of human nature and society.
From the Director
“Fool’s Paradise is a sharp, darkly funny exploration of privilege, survival, and the absurd ways we cling to control when faced with chaos. I deeply admire Thrown Stone’s commitment to new play development and their fearless approach to bringing fresh, thought-provoking work to life. It’s a pleasure to collaborate with them in realizing Jonathan’s brilliant play.” – James Dean Palmer
Hello, Jonathan, I am a longtime friend of Steve Hauck and also a playwright. I saw Fools’ Paradise on Sunday. Steve did not tell me anything about it. I was very impressed. It touches on a lot of important subjects, but timeless and topical, using gentle humor and a sense that things are a bit disturbing; much like the set (kudos to Mr. Garcia) I do have a further comments and questions, if you wish to contact me by email. I think Fools’ can have a good future and deserves to be seen by a lot of audiences around the country