Fortune's Fool had its Broadway premiere a century and a half after it was written (1848) and proceeded to win two Tony Awards for the highly acclaimed performances of its stars, Alan Bates and Frank Langella, as well as a Tony nomination for best play.

Set in the Russian countryside of grand houses and serfs, the play depicts the tragicomic events precipitated by the return of a young heiress to her family estate. As the members of the household bait and react to each other, the first act ends in a stunning revelation that will impact all the principals. In the bittersweet conclusion, everyone must pick up the pieces and move on with their lives.