Lakewood Theatre Company Presents THE FOREIGNER, 11/5

Arriving in a foreign country where you cannot speak the language can be a harrowing experience. Pretending to be a foreigner in your own country, well, that can be hilarious. And pretending to speak no English at a remote fishing lodge, well, that can lead to problems with the Klu Klux Klan. Author Larry Shue's brilliant script wrings every laugh out of that situation in The Foreigner opening Friday, November 5, 2010 at Lakewood Theatre Company.

Directed by Joe Theissen, The Foreigner continues until December 12th with the following schedule:  Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 PM, Sundays at 7:00 PM (November 7, 14, 21), Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM (November 14, 28 & December 5, 12), and one Wednesday performance at 7:30 PM on December 1st.  Please note: there is  no performance on Thanksgiving November 25th. The theatre is located at Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State Street in Lake Oswego. Ticket prices are $27 for adults and $24 for seniors. Additional discounts are available for groups and students. Contact the Lakewood Theatre Box Office at (503) 635-3901 or order  online at www.lakewood-center.org  The title sponsor for The Foreigner is The Swinford Family.

The Story: Staff Sergeant Froggy LeSueur (Brandon Weaver) is a British Army officer. He brings his friend Charlie Baker (Jeff Gorham) to a backwoods Georgia fishing lodge for a few days respite while he takes off on a secret military assignment. Charlie is a milquetoast proofreader for a science-fiction magazine and is completely depressed by a failing marriage. Froggy sets him up as a visiting foreigner who neither speaks nor understands English so he can recuperate in semi-seclusion.

Innkeeper Betty Meeks (Dalene Young) is mesmerized by her first encounter with a foreigner and immediately tries to communicate with Charlie. A slow-witted teenager, Ellard (Gavin Hoffman) begins to teach English to Charlie. We discover that words like 'chair', 'lamp' and 'fork' have at least two syllables each when spoken below the Mason-Dixon line. Ellard's sister, Catherine (ileana herrin) talks to Charlie as a confidant since she is sure he doesn't understand a word.

During Charlie's stay he overhears a slew of conversations that reveal hidden scandals and the conniving plans of Rev. David Marshall Lee (Garland Lyons) and Owen Musser (Todd Tschida), the village redneck. Compelled to help, Charlie finds himself trying to right the wrongs of the guests and prevent their underhanded plots.

This inspired comic romp was the winner of two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards as Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production.

Stage direction for The Foreigner is by Joe Theissen. Set design is by Jeff Seats, lighting design is by Kurt Herman, costume design is by Allison Dawe and properties are by Sammuel Hawkins. The stage manager for the show is Stephen Thompson, the assistant stage manager is Hannah Lewman and the producer is Kay Vega.