THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996 TAG: 9602270114
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Theater review
SOURCE: MONTAGUE GAMMON III
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
``The Foreigner'' is one of those delightfully inconsequential, cheerfully and cheeringly frivolous comedies that quickly endears itself even to the most hardened, serious-minded watcher.
It's brain candy, but it's Cadbury brain candy, a quality form of empty calories. The Virginia Wesleyan production acquits itself quite honorably in the face of the play that, for all its lightness, makes some weighty demands upon its per-formers.
It's set in a rural Georgia inn. Charley Baker, who maintains that he himself lacks any personality, seeks solitude while his beloved, but compulsively unfaithful, wife lies ill in London. His friend ``Froggy'' LeSeur, a British commando and demolitions expert, had long before befriended the widow Meeks who runs the place.
To insure that Baker will be left entirely to himself, LeSeur tells Mrs. Meeks that ``Shar-Ou-Li'' is a foreigner ashamed that he cannot understand one word of English. Any attempts to communicate with Shar-Ou-Li will deeply embarass him, maintains LeSeur.
Convinced that his supposedly exotic visitor is effectively deaf to all that transpires, guests and locals are soon discussing the most personal and secret matters in his presence, and Baker is soon in the middle of a Ku Klux Klan plot.
The farce is a suspense tale too, as the widow, a pregnant debutante, a young man who may be mentally handicapped, and Charlie find themselves beseiged by the Klan as the tale reaches its climax. If you like to cheer for the underdog - and who doesn't - you'll delight in this part of the show.
It would be unfair to suggest that there is no cause for suspense nor reason to be fearful for these characters. While the Klan leader is depicted as foolish and ignorant, Shue provides ample evidence that violence and harm do threaten the good guys.
The script is in many ways a showcase for the talents of whoever plays Charley. He gets to prance, dance, gesticulate, and generally engage in outrageous and broadly physical comedy as he pretends to overcome the language barrier. He also gets some priceless and reasonably subtle bits of wordplay and mimicry.
Jason Stiles throws himself full force into the role, and the result is an engaging, funny character. Amy Insley, as Betty Meeks, serves as a good foil for Stiles while creating a character who is amusing in her own right.
As the limited young Ellard Simms, who might be just shy, immature and overly eager to please, Sean Nesbit is absolutely on target in every way. Catherine Simms is played by Jennie Alder with charm and a quiet consistency.
Collin Decker plays Catherine's fiance, the Rev. David Lee, with appropriate innocence but perhaps less stress on his dark side than might be warranted. He does look quite young.
In the role of the bigoted bully Owen Musser, Brian Monahan targets the character's fundamentally ineffectual nature. The portrait of his prejudice and ignorance are complete, but his evil seems a bit lightweight.
Gunter Keitel projects convincingly the confidence, competence, and good nature of the commando LeSeur.
Bentley Anderson directed, and deserves compliments for the completeness of the whole show, its look, its good pace, and its entertaining tone. by CNB