Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: Currents

Media Credit: Leslie Ballantine Betty, played by Senior Kaysee Schmidt, presents "the Foreigner," Charlie, played by Sophomore Evan Wilberg with some tea and hospitality.

Beginning this week, the UW-Eau Claire theatre arts department is set to debut one of playwright Larry Shue's finest comedic productions.

The contemporary play, "The Foreigner," with its dark comic robustness and intelligent banter, has been alluring and enchanting theatergoers since its inception in the 1980s. With its refreshingly spirited cast and crisp witted tongue, "The Foreigner" has engaged viewers and provides that much-needed and widely welcomed rich, comedic experience.

"All of the main characters are either concealing something about themselves or deeply misunderstood," said F. Reed Brown, a new theatre department professor and 26-year veteran director.

Set in a fishing lodge in rural Georgia, the play is centered around main characters Charlie Baker and Froggy Lesueur. Baker, a tragically and unfortunately shy individual, is coerced into the guise of an international traveler unable to speak nor understand a word of English. With this clever deception, Baker is able to obtain secret and undisclosed information from other characters that are under the impression he cannot comprehend their language. With this comedic device, relationships are altered, and chaos ensues as true personalities and identities are exposed.

Brown contextualized the production, speaking to its underlying social premise hidden under comic disguise.

"By Charlie putting on a social mask, he's able to unmark everyone else. He either finds comfort in his own issues or exposes the hypocrisy of others," he said.

Brown possesses an award-winning résumé, proving his astute and creative ability to provide audiences with enjoyable and worthwhile entertainment. At his previous institution in Virginia, he was awarded the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Award for the directing of the production "Big Love," he said. This prestigious award was given for most cohesive ensemble in New England.

Supporting characters include Ellard, a youthful simpleton who attempts to teach Baker English, and Betty Meeks, the owner of the lodge in which the story is set. In contrast to Ellard, Meeks exudes eccentricity and assumes the values and ideologies of a traditional southern woman. As the plot progresses, the privy nature of Baker helps him to expose information affecting the identities and relationships of the other characters.

Continued...

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