Community Corner
PATCH Entertainment Event: LLong Beach Playhouse The Foreigner: Far More than A Very Clever Comedy- You'll THINK, Not Just Laugh
Theater Review: PATCH Entertainment Event: Long Beach, Belmont Shore,
Naples, Los
Alamitos/Seal Beach
By: Joseph Sirota
Hoorah for 2013
!!
Time for 8 Cheers-10 times
over-then 5 Cheers more, for the 85th Anniversary of our fine neighbor of live
theater of every type, and every playwright from best known Classics to new
born theater pieces in their very first production, here in our backyard. The
Long Beach Playhouse (LBPH) has been brave and able to mix each season from
Comedy, to Mystery, to Romance, to Musical and more. Some daring works offer a theatrical porridge
swirling with a bit of all the aforementioned kinds & styles(No cowards
here, except a few Noel Coward plays). A clever choice for Year 85 is THE
FOREIGNER -- an admirably unique diversity of Long Beach Playhouse's "Talent-and-Guts"
stretching the envelope from Raucous Comedy to Near Tragedies-- and from a
seemingly Silly tale, to a memorable surprise which turns into downright issues
of humanity, psychology, politics and humanities' mores. Chuckles and guffaws dominate
early scenes, but, oh those 2nd- ACT scenes ... will have you startled with amazing laughter and
true tears of joy for the major awakenings of previously, downtrodden
characters, and good-riddances to big-shots exposed as rotten louses. Voila! Some
deemed Foreigners as distained for Not-Fitting-In
and hence tabbed "Not-Normal"...But blossoming into dear friends
& heroes, when we listen to them,
with open hearts...Not closed ears, & eyes!
Playwright, Larry Shue creates a story in the core signature style of using adaring humorous tale, and then turn it into wise "lessons" we can &do learn from. (Who Would Expect That?) Shue, himself was a rather youngwriter/actor, starting to win and reach audiences with odd humor & ideas. Onhis way to lots more creative, thought-providing plays ahead, sadly, his uniquestyle/messages died, with Shue in an all too soon airplane crash. It's well worthy to come see for yourself how Shue's play style inventivelyat first can seem like a rather outlandish comedy, well-sprinkled, with silly characterizations, mainly providing smiles and unavoidable chuckles/fun. But wesoon find deep feelings and life's pains inside in core role (Charlie) who isso afraid of being scoffed by the world as he's been by his wife, that he has locked himself in a self-imposed solitary life path. Bottled up for so long, Charlie's boyhood only friend, the well-meaning & oh-so outgoing pal, Froggy, pulls dear Charlie with him, toa small, rundown Georgiafarmhouse bed-&-breakfast for a weekend. Well-meaning Froggy, hopes thecalm, quiet surroundings and the kind, funny owner, Auntie-Betty may warmly/safely-open Charlie's inner wit and warmth.
Stuck in silence, can such little steps help, Charlie can't even bring himself
to speak to anyone but Froggy? To explain Charlie's silence in life, Froggy
covers by telling Betty and others there that Charlie is a distant Foreigner from a tiny land, who can't
understand or speak English. The few folks there, see Charlie as very strange,
but Betty is Auntish, & tries to befriend Charlie unstressfully. Discover the
other 4 folks as they unfold !!
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Author
Shue & Wise Director Gigi Fusco Meese are both far from
complacent with just seeking giggles. Nope, Shue & Meese both adeptly &
successfully use humor to tackle important, sensitive, serious issues... such
as inner psychological fears, suppressed unspoken feelings, or societal locked
gates in the form of bullies, intolerance and even racism or xenophobia. If
Shue were alive today he'd be pleased with Meese and the cast's funny, yet sensitive portrayals.
He'd happily recognize his message to distain life's Horrid Damages of
Bullying, Mocking and Barring-Out folks (& Children) because they are
different in some ways. Larry might well smile, and say, I'm glad you all got my message,
of--We're all "Foreigners" in the eyes of others. Some
do coldly push away anyone not following the one-only-correct-life-trail. But don't be lemmings marching
in a line of others' one-ideas...sez this inner play. Shue & Meese challenge
us to rethink & re-feel via humor, not hatred
The ONE & ONLY Cosmic
Foreigner Actor: Never saw Greg B4
but WOW! is he perfect for the
very daring Charlie other-worldly super-role
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Greg Barnett (Charlie).
He handily manages to carry off a
role of virtually no words in Act-I, then goes into after-burner like a rocket
in Act-2!!
The Two Outgoing, Friendly,
Nice Guys:
As good a duo as you can hope for in constructing the plot, and lighting
up any stage given them.
Mitchell Nunn (Froggy)
is a fine, hi-energy actor that can keep any scene going, any audience
enjoying, & any plot working. I'd
hire him 12
Phyllis Nofts (Betty)
might just be a 2nd cousin of M.Nunn, she's also terrific in comedic timing,
warm/caring presence can handle lines well!
The Two Bad Guys: just
wanna' get all the money, control all the power, and
get rid of anybody of any different/morals. It's a darn hard life!
Skip Blas (Owen) Kids himself about
always being a Bad-Guy/Villain, but wise theater/film fans know how crucial the
ominous/dangerous bad-guy is; Heck there'd be no thrill or edge of seat tension
with only well-groomed Heroes.
Jeff Cheezum (David) As a Holy Man with
far more Greed and Lust than Soul, this Nasty-Dude handles a real tough role--Keeping
a rich fiancée quiet-- controlling an angry, big, bashing partner, while the
Foreigner turns into a Hero.
Brother & Sister Roles: Though working with limited
time/clarity by the script to solidly create their background lives, they
really fly in Act-2!!
James
Paul Xavier (Ellard) & BriAnna
Hill (Catherine) They sure win us over to care, once we see
them releasing themselves (ala Charlie).
In
addition to Director Gigi Fusco Meese and the
well-adept/chosen cast, LBPH's backstage team very well creates all the things
& the-know-how, that make the show a delightful/magical event and earns
audience applause for their hard work and creative abilities: Sean Gray(Set
Design); Donna Fritsche(Costumes); Daniel Driskol(Lighting); Larry Mura(Sound/Props); Scenic Painter(Drew Otero). A fine Production A-Z !
___________________________________________________________
==> Long Beach Playhouse Mainstage
Theatre, 5021 E.Anaheim St,
Long Beach. Sched:
Fri & Sat 8:PM. Sun matinees @
2:PM.
(562) 494-1014 Website:
www.LBPlayhouse.org
