Written by Larry Shue · Directed by Roger Hamel
Show Dates: May 11-13 and 18-20
Curtain 7:00pm, Sunday Matinees 2:00pm
THE FOREIGNER: The scene is a fishing lodge in rural Georgia often visitedby "Froggy" LeSeuer, a British demolition expert who occasionally runs training sessions at a nearby army base. This time Froggy has brought along a friend, a pathologically shy young man named Charlie who is overcome with fear at the thought of making conversation with strangers. So Froggy, before departing, tells all assembled that Charlie is from an exotic foreign country and speaks no English. Once alone the fun really begins, as Charlie overhears more than he should the evil plans of a sinister, two-faced minister and his redneck associate; the fact that the minister's pretty fiancée is pregnant; and many other damaging revelations made with the thought that Charlie doesn't understand a word being said. The fact that he DOES understand fuels the nonstop hilarity of the play and sets up the wildly funny climax in which things go uproariously awry.
Character Descriptions:
NOTE: ages listed are STAGE ages ONLY, open to wide variations
Froggy Lesueur (M, 35-55) A British military demolitions expert & Charlie's friend. Loves adventure.
Charlie Baker (M, 35-55) a pathologically shy little British man who has a very unfaithful wife, no personality that he can think of, and a need for peace and quiet. He has accompanied Froggy against his own better judgment.
Betty Meeks (F, 60+) The proprietor of a Georgia fishing lodge, Betty is pleasant, wise in some ways, naïve in others. She is a good-hearted, generous, "down-home" Southerner who speaks the hardy local dialect.
Reverend David Marshall Lee (M, 22-35) Neither the stereotypical pious young man nor the hearty backslapping evangelist, he appears to be a "regular guy", one that you would like to have on your side. He is not what he seems,however: a sinister, two-faced, honest-to-goodness "bad guy".
Catherine Simms (F, 18-30) The very pregnant and potentially rich fiancée of the Reverend Lee, she has a ready wit and a sharp tongue. She badly needs someone to talk to, and, since Charlie doesn't bother giving advice, he suits her needs perfectly. Catherine is Ellard's sister.
Owen Musser (M, 25-55) The mean, suspicious, and slimy Tilghman County property inspector. Owen and the Reverend Lee are cooking up an evil plot; Owen, we find, is the absolute stereotype of an ill-bred southern Klansman.
Ellard Simms (M, 15-25) Catherine's brother, Ellard is agreeable, though a bit slow-witted. He works as a sort of handyman for Betty and needs a considerable bit of instruction in his tasks, but may not be as dull as he seems. Ellard befriends Charlie and even decides to teach him to speak English.
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