‘The Foreigner’ serves as comedic reunion for Phoenix Theatre

Published 1:30 am Thursday, May 17, 2018

On its surface, Phoenix Theatre’s upcoming comedic play, “The Foreigner,” is about the challenges faced by a man coming to America who doesn’t speak English.

Or does he?

It turns out the character, Charlie, played by Boyd Morrison, is from England. And the ruse that he doesn’t understand English was cooked up by his friend Froggie, played by Phillip Keiman, as a cover for him.

“Charlie is having a hard time, including marital problems,” said Debra Rich Gettleman, the theater’s managing director. Froggie, an explosives expert, is coming to the United States as a guest instructor for the Army to teach recruits about explosives and bomb disposal. He asks Charlie to come along on his trip.

Charlie, who is shy, hesitates. He tells his pal he doesn’t think he can do it because he would have to talk to strangers.

Froggie says he will find a fix for that. His friend Betty, played by Melanie Calderwood, runs a fishing lodge in Georgia where they book lodgings. Everyone will be told that Charlie doesn’t speak a word of English.

At first Charlie thinks that’s great. But then Froggie goes on his mission, leaving him behind. Charlie begins overhearing conversations, including some with personal details of people’s lives, that he realizes he shouldn’t be hearing.

“He starts to get panicked and thinks, ‘I better tell people the truth,’ ” Gettleman said.

But it’s too late.

Charlie ends up hearing important details from Owen, played by Michael McFadden, whom Gettleman describes as a bad guy with an evil plan.

She declined to spell it out — it’s a major plot point of the play — but did disclose it involves a takeover by the Klu Klux Klan, and the attempt “to create a Christian nation,” she said.

Despite his lack of conversation, Charlie still manages to win the friendship of those around him. Ultimately, he creates a plan to save the lodge, the county, and all the people who live there, Gettleman said.

“His plan is pretty crazy,” she said. “You have to come to see what happens in the end.”

The play is a true, classic comedy she said, one that Phoenix regulars have been asking the theater group to do for years.

“It is truly one of the funniest pieces of comedy that’s ever been written,” Gettleman said.

As the actors started reading it, they realized it included social themes just as relevant today as when it was written in the 1980s, she said.

The play is directed by Eric Lewis, a Phoenix regular, who excels at comedy. “There are a lot of comedy surprises that Eric has guided us toward,” Gettleman said. Some even surprise the cast, leaving them wondering where he discovered them in the script.

The play is a delight for its seven-member cast for another reason. It’s something of a homecoming for its actors.

“If you love to come to the Phoenix Theatre, you’ll definitely see your favorite actors on stage,” she said. “It’s almost like a reunion.”

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.

If you go

“The Foreigner,” is playing May 25 to June 17 at Phoenix Theatre, 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12 to $24.

More information at www.tptedmonds.org.