The Caltech Playreaders

2017-2018: The 67th Season

All of our readings will be held at 7:30 pm
at the Caltech Athenaeum in the Hall of Associates.

Please note our start time of 7:30 p.m. The doors will open at 7:15.

February 13, 2018

The Foreigner by Larry Shue

Directed by Will Ahrens

A Note from the Director

Charlie Baker, while on vacation in a Georgia hunting lodge to escape marital problems, pretends not to be able to understand English, so as to avoid the having to interact with the other guests. His plan backfires and he soon finds himself caught in the middle of personal and political intigue.

Larry Shue wrote The Foreigner while he was playwright-in-residence at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. It premiered in 1983, and later moved to Off-Broadway where it earned two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards. One reviewer called the play "a charming comedy about the magic of kindness". Being an actor as well, Shue also played the lead role of Charlie. Sadly, Shue died in a plane crash shortly after The Foreigner's run Off-Broadway. He was only 39 years old.

The setting: Betty Meeks Fishing Lodge Resort, Georgia, USA.

Cast of Characters:

SGT. "FROGGY" LASUEUR an English bomb squad expert. Friend to Charlie Baker
CHARLIE BAKER a mild mannered, shy Englishman
BETTY MEEKS owner of a fishing lodge in Georgia, USA
REVEREND DAVID MARSHALL LEE a divinity student. Engaged to Catherine Simms
CATHERINE SIMMS heir to the Simms Prepared Meats fortune. Engaged to Reverend David Marshall Lee.
OWEN MUSSER Tilghman County Property Inspector
ELLARD SIMMS Catherine's slow but sweet little brother

Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.