‘Foreigner’ not foreign to columnist

THEATER

About a year ago, I wrote a column in these pages about the

upcoming production of “Bus Stop” at the Huntington Beach Playhouse,

and why I wouldn’t be able to review it. It seems my daughter Mindy

was among the cast members.

Next weekend, the playhouse opens another show that hits even

closer to home, Larry Shue’s marvelous comedy “The Foreigner.” And I

can’t review that one either, since I’m the guy in the director’s

chair.

When I first saw “The Foreigner” about 15 years ago at South Coast

Repertory, I loved the concept -- a shy Englishman staying for a

weekend at a rustic Georgia lodge, pretending not to speak or

understand English so he won’t be bothered, and the outrageous antics

that ensue. It was one of the funniest plays I’d ever seen in a

career of aisle sitting that now spans nearly four decades.

This, I determined, was a play I had to put onto a community

theater stage. And since I’ve been spending my off-duty hours as

artistic director of the Irvine Community Theater for more years than

I’d care to admit, that wish could be easily fulfilled, right?

Wrong. Irvine Community Theater produces its shows at Turtle Rock

Community Park in Irvine, a multipurpose facility where the term “set

designer” is also quite foreign. Simply stated, you can’t build a set

there -- and “The Foreigner” definitely requires a setting, for

reasons that become apparent when you see the play.

So, I began sending out applications to local theater groups,

offering to direct the show. And a few months ago, the Huntington

Beach Playhouse lost the rights to its November project “Born

Yesterday,” due to entanglements in the playwright’s will. The

playhouse needed to fill the slot, and president Bettie Muhlenberg

came across my application, called me and asked if I was still

interested in directing “The Foreigner” and if I would be available

for the November slot. An emphatic “yes” to both questions.

So, the wheels were set in motion, and the auditions produced

arguably the best cast I’ve worked with in about 20 years. The

downside is, the Anaheim Angels also have the best team they’ve had

in 20 years -- or ever -- so I’ve missed a few playoff and World

Series games.

But it’s been worth it. This is one experience I wouldn’t trade

for a dozen Angels’ championships. “The Foreigner” is a comic gem of

a play, and I can’t wait for next Friday’s opening night. Call me

prejudiced, but I think this will be the funniest show you’ll see all

year. That’s a director’s opinion, not a critic’s.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.