Auroraadvocate.com - Canfora returns to lead next ACT play

Playwright Larry Shue is known for being so capable of making audiences laugh that a man in the audience of one of his plays fell out of his seat, holding his sides against the laughter he couldn't stop, and rolling down three steps before he could recover.

That's the kind of laughter Aurora Community Theatre officials say audiences can expect when the curtain goes up Jan. 29 for "The Foreigner," directed by ACT veteran Roseann Canfora and produced by John Marchese.

Canfora said the show has a deeper message than one might expect from a farce.

"The humor in this wonderful play is not just based on the usual reversal of expectation that make us all laugh at human failings," said Canfora. "It's also based on our sense of justice and our inherent desire to celebrate human potential."

It is that humanity, the director said, that audiences can expect to discover through the interwoven circumstances of seven characters.

The story takes place in a rural fishing lodge in Georgia, owned by the sweet and generous Betty Meeks (Jenifer Warren), who is brought to life in a set created by former Sea World scenic designer Paul Chechak.

He created a natural decor that Canfora saids her crew has worked hard to make as rich and spell-binding as the characters that enter the lodge.

AT THE beginning of the comedy, Froggy LeSueur, a British demolitions expert (Jack Warren), brings his friend Charlie Baker (Alex Nine) to Betty's lodge for a much needed getaway.

Charlie is not only depressed over his failing marriage, but he is pathologically shy and terrified at the prospect of having to converse with strangers at the lodge for three days.

The fun begins when Froggy leaves to tend to his military responsibilities, and manages to protect Charlie from having to converse with anyone by convincing Betty that Charlie is from a foreign country and can neither speak nor understand English.

Conversations at the lodge carry on around Charlie as if he weren't there, setting the stage for the circumstances that follow.

While not talking, Charlie learns of Betty's financial woes, of the romantic travails of a young heiress (Brenda Redmond) and the schemes of her fiancé, a local preacher (Brad Baker) and a racist county inspector (Gary Bakst).

The plot thickens as Catherine's dim-witted brother Ellard (Chris Putnam) begins teaching "the foreigner" to speak English.

"The Foreigner" will run Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. from Jan. 29 to Feb. 20. Tickets are $16 for adults and $11 for children, and can be purchased online at www.auroracommunitytheatre.com.

Group rates are available and include a $4 discount for groups of 15 or more. Groups of 20 or more receive $4 off and a private reception with the cast following the performance.

For more information, call the ACT box office at 562-1818.