Fri Feb 03 2012
by April Helms
Special Products Editor
The staging of Aurora Community Theatre's "The Foreigner" by Larry Shue also served as a sort of a homecoming for its director, Aurora resident Roseann Canfora.
Canfora, who was resident director at the theater from 1989 to 1996, said she was invited to come back to direct the comedy, for the theater's 50th anniversary season. Canfora said she had been hesitant at first because of her busy schedule, but added that directing this show was delightful.
"This is the most professional cast I've ever worked with in community theater," Canfora said. "I come into the theater for rehearsals and laugh the entire time at the wit and comedy. But I also can't think of a more relevant time than now to share Larry Shue's message of tolerance and his distaste for xenophobia, bigotry and prejudice."
The sell-out crowd on opening night Jan. 29 seemed to enjoy the show, which centers on a painfully shy man's pretending to be a foreigner who can't speak English so he will be left alone -- but winds up involved in the lives of those affiliated with a Georgia fishing lodge.
"I thought it was really good," said Donna Griesmer of Canfield. "I thought it was funny. The performers were excellent."
John Walsh, who brought his 10-year-old daughter Sara, agreed.
"We couldn't stop laughing," Walsh said. "We couldn't see the acting, which is a good thing. It was so natural, seemless."
In the play, Froggy LeSueur (played by Jack Warren) has traveled to Georgia on business and has invited his close friend Charlie (played by Alex Nine) on the trip so he can take a much-needed vacation. They stop in a rustic fishing lodge owned by Betty (played by Jenifer Warren), another friend of Froggy's. The problem is that Charlie is terrified of holding a conversation with strangers, so Froggy hatches the idea that Charlie is a visitor from another country who doesn't understand English. The idea is so people will leave the shy Charlie alone, but this backfires in amusing ways. Betty, who has felt down-in-the dumps, is thrilled to have an exotic guest at her lodge and dotes on him like a mother hen. Catherine (played by Brenda Redmond), who is engaged to be married, shares her frustrations with Charlie, comfortable with the knowledge her new confidant can't understand a word she is saying. Catherine's younger brother Ellard (played by Chris Putnam), regarded as dim by the others, takes it upon himself to teach Charlie English, which provides some of the sweetest moments in the show.
Not everyone is thrilled to have a foreigner in their midst, however. Owen (played by Gary Bakst) has his own designs for Betty's lodge: he wants to buy it cheap and turn it into the new headquarters for the Ku Klux Klan. Catherine's fiance David is surreptitiously helping Owen, hoping to secure his marriage to Catherine to get his hands on her sizable inheritance.
Ticket and show information
"The Foreigner" runs through Feb. 20.
Tickets are $16 for adults, $11 for youth 18 and under, and are available online at www.auroracommmunitytheatre.com, or through the box office at 330-562-1818. Group discounts are also available by calling the box office.
The theater is at 115 E. Pioneer Trail in Aurora.
Next on stage
Aurora Community Theatre will next produce "The Music Man," which will open April 16 and run through May 8.
Theater renovation project
The theater is currently raising funds for improved lighting, sound and theater seating. To raise money for the capital campaign, ACT is selling raffle tickets for a History of ACT quilt. The theater also is selling brick plaques, to be placed in the lobby. For details, call the theater or visit ACT's Web site.
E-mail: ahelms@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3153
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