THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505070042
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: Theater review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Charlie Baker has peoplephobia. And, of all things, he winds up at Betty Meeks Fishing Lodge Resort in Tilghman County, Ga., surrounded by a lot of folks who have a lot of hangups.
What to do? His friend, Dana Carpenter, has the bright idea of telling everybody he is from abroad and does not understand a word of English.
This gives everyone the opportunity to talk frankly around him - telling all, since they figure he can't understand anything.
Charlie hangs around looking properly befuddled, a look mastered well by Danny Kotzian, whose portrayal is right on the mark.
The plot is like an old movie comedy where stars were often surrounded by attention-getting character actors.
There are plenty on hand in ``The Foreigner,'' the COAST production ending todayat College of the Albemarle.
The most interesting performer is Amanda Chastain, a 13-year-old portraying a woman named Catherine Simms. She captures the look and actions of an adult but, most remarkably, the feelings as well.
She has feelings for the Rev. David Marshall Lee who, as it turns out, has feelings for no one.
He does tolerate a not-too-bright friend, Owen Musser. This is where ``The Foreigner'' gets bogged down in social significance.
The so-called minister, and Musser, do not like foreigners or, as Musser emphatically notes, anyone else out of the WASP category.
As members of the Ku Klux Klan, they eventually put on their sheets and bring in a few more sheeted friends to scare Charlie out of the country, but they act like Ku Klux Klowns and exit stumbling.
For the most part, the plots and subplots take back seats to the characters, the story looking more like an excuse for displaying some fascinating folk.
Brian Johnson offers a fascinating portrayal of Musser, reminiscent of Michael J. Pollard, who played Bonnie and Clyde's dimwitted sidekick.
Musser, though, is an amateur dimwit compared to Ellard. The difference is that Ellard is more lovable and would not know hate from third base.
Rick Durren's slow-walkin' and slow-talkin' Ellard is excellent - so convincing, you almost feel he is like that offstage. (He isn't). Incidentally, Durren is a high school student.
Back to the star - Kotzian as Charlie Baker. His best scene, his showiest, comes when he is asked to tell a story in his native language.
He does so with gusto and wonderful facial and vocal expressions. A wild guess is that it was ``Goldilocks and the Three Bears'' told in a language sounding like a combination of street-corner Russian and nov shmoz ka pop.
``The Foreigner'' offers start to finish fun. It is a laugh-a-minute play enhanced by sharp Sandy Boyce direction and a youthful, exuberant, talented cast. by CNB