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Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble presents ‘The Foreigner’

BLOOMSBURG — Some who view “The Foreigner” will bemoan the loopy jokes and its loony characters. Others will praise “The Foreigner” because of its loopy jokes and loony characters.

He’s back! For the third time in the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble’s 39 year history, Larry Shue’s “The Foreigner” arrives at the Alvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center St., with 7:30 p.m. performances Thursdays through Saturdays, with 2 p.m Sunday matinees, now through April 8.

Charlie Baker is the painfully shy British proofreader who is brought to a fishing lodge resort in rural Georgia by his Army buddy Froggy for a three day respite from the stresses of dealing with his uncaring, dying wife. Dreading any human interaction, Charlie reluctantly goes along with a ruse that keeps him from having to strike up any conversation, as he is passed off as a foreigner who can neither speak nor understand English.

Although the lodge’s residents and other redneck townsfolk feel free to discuss sinister plans or share secrets in Charlie’s presence, they are unaware that the “furriner” completely understands everything being said to further their dastardly deeds.

Little does Catherine, the debutante daughter of the deceased owner, realize that her minister fiance David, with the help of a bigot Owen, plans to take over the resort lodge, turning it into the headquarters of the Klu Klux Klan. Only standing is David’s way is his pregnant bride-to-be Catherine, her slow-witted brother Ellard, and of course Charlie.

The unfolding plot is preposterous, but what farce, whether fluffy or fractured, doesn’t strain all credibility?

As Ellard and the audience learns, Charlie foils the sinister plot with the help of a croquet mallet — and a trap door. (Millbrook Playhouse presented a popular production several summers ago, although it was staged in the Cabaret which doesn’t have a trapdoor.)

The cast is headed by Andrew Hubatsek as the utterly boring Charlie. Although somewhat diminutive in stature, Hubatsek is big on comedic talent. His performance constantly draws smirks and laughs, showing him to be a master of mugging and reacting to the chaos swirling around him.

Sporting a close haircut, Daniel Roth, plays Froggy LeSueur, the military explosives expert who brings “The Foreigner” to Meeks’ Resort.

Noticeably omitted from the program’s cast list is Laurie McCants, who portrays Betty Meeks. Her homespun hospitality is funny, especially when she shouts at Charlie, confident that her raised voice aids him in understanding her English.

Renee Fawess, the only non-BTE cast member, is fine as Catherine, the pretty “heiress” who is engaged to the Rev. David Marshall Lee.

As David, Richard Cannaday is polite but swarmy, eager to marry Catherine so as to his hands on her inheritance, and convert the Lodge into Georgia’s KKK headquarters.

The obvious villain is James Goode as Owen Musser, the tattooed, redneck building inspector, ready to condemn the lodge. Goode, who played Ellard in BTE’s previous versions in 1986 and 1993, is menacing with his belittling remarks.

And in spouting out his threats, Owen not only refers to Jews and African Americans as incurring the wrath of the KKK but — as a likely suggestion from director Elizabeth Dowd — adds Muslims.

Standing out in the top notch cast is Eric Wunsch as Catherine’s brother Ellard, likeable but easily confused, and obviously “not quite there.”

A couple of the farce’s funniest moments occur when Charlie and Ellard mirror each other’s movements while eating, followed by “The Foreigner” telling a story in his “native tongue.”

Charlie babbles on hilariously, alternating from high pitched cries from a likely heroine to guttural growls presumably from a beast. Although his story sounds like a variation on a fairy tale, Betty thinks it’s all about a tractor.

The great looking set depicts the Meeks Fishing Lodge Resort, which has wood plank floors, and not only a moosehead but also a couple of oversized fish (pardon the expression) “perched” on the wall.

A possible miscue during one of last weekend’s preview performances in not completely lowering the lights initially when the lodge’s electricity is cut has no doubt been corrected.

Even rabid fans of “The Foreigner” have to admit a few drawbacks. With a running time of two hours and 45 minutes (with one intermission), the show is a bit too long, although there is good pacing, Act I has several moments with extended dialogue that doesn’t encourage the audience to smile, much less laugh.

Another concern is that Act II takes on a serious tone as the KKK arrive at the lodge armed with rifles and bats, which may strike some theatergoers as totally out of character with the show’s farcical tone.

But little of these concerns matter to an audience who hoot and holler as Charlie saves the day in a most unconventional way.

A deserved fan favorite, audiences will relish “The Foreigner” as a farce with loopy jokes and loony characters which add up to madcap entertainment.

For more information, call the Box Office at 570-784-8181; or visit www.bte.org.

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