[NEohioPAL] Review of "The Foreigner" at Porthouse Theatre

[Bob Abelman]

'The Foreigner' is the cure for what ails you

 

Bob Abelman

News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times Courier

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics 

 

This review appeared in the News-Herald 7/9/10

Last week in a piece for the News-Herald, I encouraged summer theater goers to take a deep breath and reflect on these troubling times-to meditate and ponder-and to use theater as the vehicle to do so (see http://news-herald.com/articles/2010/07/02/life/nh2710845.txt).

 

We are so immersed in day-to-day affairs, I noted, that it is often difficult to find the energy and incentive to step outside ourselves and put life into perspective.  Go see some drama.

 

Yeah, well, hold off on that for a while.

 

Instead, venture out to the sprawling grounds of the pastoral Porthouse Theatre in Cuyahoga Falls, cattycorner to Blossom Music Center.  There you will find Larry Shue's The Foreigner, an absolutely hilarious and marvelously presented farce.   While drama facilitates reflection, there is nothing like a good belly-laugh to cure what ails you.

 

The Foreigner made its Off Broadway debut in 1984 and has since become a staple at professional and community theaters.   

 

Some productions embellish the parts of the script that are explicitly silly, of which there is no shortage.

 

Charlie Baker is a shy, nervous and unassuming Brit who, on the advice of his buddy, takes a brief holiday at a fishing lodge in rural Georgia.  The reason for the holiday is ludicrous.  The rationale for being in a lodge in the Deep South is farfetched.  The lodge owner is told that timid Charlie is foreign and does not speak English so he can avoid unwanted contact with others, which is absurd.  

 

These productions fully embrace the silly sitcom scenario of a man who speaks English but pretends not to amidst a population of backwoods locals who speak English but barely.  Charlie's contrived country of origin and his native language are never specified, which allows for a steady stream of nonsense syllables and nonsensical wordplay.  Jokes about being a foreigner in a foreign land are delivered big.  Sight gags are exaggerated.  Characters are broad caricatures.  

 

Other productions accentuate the disturbing parts of Shue's play, where the locals-a conniving minister, a menacing bully and a horde of Klansmen-derive pleasure from verbally abusing the seemingly defenseless Charlie and Ellard, a mentally challenged resident of the lodge.  This creates an ominous undercurrent that weaves its way through the funny stuff.  

 

The Porthouse Theatre production, under the meticulous direction of Rohn Thomas, perfectly balances the silly with the sinister. Through Thomas' calculated choices and his ensemble's flawless execution, the preposterous elements of this play are plausible, the menacing moments are understated and organic, and the odd collection of people that populate this world is authentic.

 

Eric van Baars delivers a thoroughly delightful Charlie who, if not intentionally, intuitively channels the innocence of early film comedian Stan Laurel.  The vapid stare and broad grin are raised to an art form.  During a brilliant pantomime sequence between Charlie and Ellard, van Baars' performance brings to mind the endearing playfulness of Harpo Marx.  

 

Paula Duesing, as lodge owner Betty Meeks. takes an off-kilter, one-dimensional, running joke of a character role and not only makes her flesh and blood, but makes it look easy.  Tony Zanoni is astoundingly sweet and disarmingly charming as Ellard.  Also superb are Amy Pawlukiewicz as the fallen debutant Catherine, Darren Nash as the Reverend, Robert Ellis as the menacing Owen, and John Kolibab as Charlie's friend "Froggy."  Only Kolibab's opening night boisterousness distracts from an evening of stellar performances, exceptional comic timing and sustained hilarity.  

 

To this production's credit, only the trap door in the middle of Ben Needham's beautifully constructed and appointed fishing lodge-the play's obvious deus ex machina-hints at a farce in the making.  Multiple doors for slamming are not incorporated in the set design and, thankfully, none of the trophy animal heads mounted on the wall do anything but complement the room and the action that takes place there.  

 

Sure, summer theater goers should take a deep breath and reflect on these troubling times.  But after an evening of comedy done well at the Porthouse Theatre, their only concern will be catching their breath.

 

The Foreigner continues through July 17 in the covered, outdoor pavilion at Porthouse Theatre, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cuyahoga Falls.  For tickets, which are $20 to $33, call 330-929-4416 or visit http://dept.kent.edu/theatre/porthouse/TicketInfo.htm.





       
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