First, a confession: As I drove the hour and a half to what seemed could only be described as the middle of nowhere — Mount Carroll, Illinois — I was upset. No way could a show be worth this much gas money! But after seeing Timber Lake Playhouse’s production of THE FOREIGNER, I was ready to drive back the very next night.
Larry Shue’s play, directed by Chuck Smith, tells the story of a man spending time at a Georgia fishing lodge, who is painfully shy. Poor Charlie Baker is so bad at making conversation with strangers, his friend suggests pretending to be a foreigner who doesn’t speak or understand any English to avoid conversation and interaction with the other guests. What began as a harmless prank becomes more complicated as others at the lodge reveal all kinds of things to Charlie, believing that he understands nothing of what they say.
THE FOREIGNER is often interpreted as – and presented as – a comedy, but it has many darker, dramatic elements that get downplayed in a more lighthearted production. TLP’s FOREIGNER is just such a comic presentation.
Charlie Baker, the title role, is played by Jeremy Day, and this fantastic performer was excellent here. As the hilariously uncomfortable guest, Day’s performance kept me laughing the whole time, as he awkwardly reacts to the other characters.
Betty Meeks, played by Kitty Karn, became my favorite character. Kam’s Betty has a reaction to meeting a "foreigner" for the first time that prompts the audience to laugh out loud, and throughout the play she does a consistently outstanding job that will keep you laughing in every scene she has.
Brandon Ford shines as Reverend David Marshall Lee, a southern preacher who’s not as aw-shucks as he appears. Ford is entertaining, though, even while showing the Reverend’s two-faced character. It becomes easy to dislike the character, yet you find yourself hoping he isn’t as bad as he seems.
Jenny Guse plays Catherine, Reverend Lee’s fiancée. As a former debutante, Catherine is a prissy, self-absorbed character who feels unworthy of her seemingly-perfect and religious fiancé. Guse, who is completely natural in the role – her work is never forced – makes the audience fall in love with Catherine, despite her arrogant personality.
Zachary Gray is wonderful as Ellard Simms, the mentally challenged brother of Catherine – and Gray keeps the audience laughing as Ellard "teaches" Charles to speak English and read Shakespeare in a total of two days.
While each actor did an excellent job, what worked best in this production was the tight pacing and the interplay among the characters. The dialogue is both well-written and aptly delivered, making much of THE FOREIGNER absolutely hilarious.
The set, designed by Joseph Heitman, is also quite impressive. Very detailed, it adds a great deal of atmosphere to the production, making the audience believe that the actors are really staying in a fishing lodge.
Despite some serious subject material, involving the KKK and plans to bring a form of ethnic "cleansing" to the United States, the play manages to stay incredibly light-hearted, remaining true to this production’s comedic intentions.
Although the theater is located in what folks from "The Cities" might consider the boonies, it is well worth the drive. Make a little road trip to visit Timber Lake Playhouse to see THE FOREIGNER; you’ll definitely leave wishing for more.
