ON THEATER:

If you’ve never seen Larry Shue’s “The Foreigner,” do yourself a favor and check out the production at Costa Mesa’s Vanguard University — if you can get a seat, that is; the opening night house was packed.

It’s a particular treat for first-time viewers, since Shue’s characters and story line often veer off the beaten path in unimagined directions, most of them hilarious. This play has an enormous laugh potential, and director Amick Byram’s Vanguard production has taken this comedic bull by the horns.

Set in a backwoods fishing lodge in the heart of Jeff Foxworthy’s Georgia, “The Foreigner” focuses on an egregiously timorous Englishman — accompanying a friend in the British armed services on a three-day visit to the Colonies — who’s put up at the lodge. He’s reticent to exchange pleasantries with the locals, so his buddy introduces him as a “foreigner” who speaks no English.

This ploy sets up a series of accelerating comical events culminating in a faceoff with the Ku Klux Klan, which aims to turn the lodge into a “Christian hunt club.” And among what they’ll be hunting will be foreigners.

Michael Dye steps gingerly into the title role of Charlie and gradually grows to revel in it, adeptly zinging the local morons and launching a staunch defense when the KKKers grow violent. His facial reactions comprise a good part of his characterization.

The role of Catherine, the beautiful heiress wooed by a shifty clergyman, is well played by Mary Lee Tandy-McGlasson, who alternates between a whisper and a shriek but still turns in a fine performance. Elise Hegnauer excels as the fluttery proprietor of the lodge, a mistress of malapropism.

Tim Lavino charms his way through the part of David, Catherine’s too-good-to-be-true clerical beau, only exposing his darker side when (he thinks) no one’s watching. Playing his dumb but dangerous buddy, Owen, is David Camerena, who would be far more effective by slowing the pace of his dialogue to a more deliberate drawl.

As Ellard, Catherine’s mentally challenged brother, Timothy Glasgow is something of an oversized teddy bear, mining his comic lines with aplomb. Rosalyn Brickman is effective as Charlie’s demolitions expert buddy Froggy, a part written for a male actor.

The show plays out against the rich rustic background of Paul Eggington’s fishing lodge setting. Eggington also functions at technical director, setting up some impressive offstage sounds such as thunder, lightning and explosions.

Sadly, playwright Shue died in a plane crash before he could savor the success of “The Foreigner.”

His legacy is mined with hilarious results at Vanguard University.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “The Foreigner”

WHERE: Vanguard University, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

WHEN: Closing performances at 8 tonight and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday.

COST: $14 & $12

CALL: (714) 668-6145

Repertory teaches California history

South Coast Repertory has launched its annual Educational Touring Production with director John-David Keller at the helm — for the 37th time — and creators Richard Hellesen (story) and Michael Silversher (music and lyrics) — for the 12th.

This year’s offering, available for presentation to local grade schools, is “Indian Summer,” an account of a young man’s growth (in stature and wisdom) as the son of a pioneer family in California during the mid-1800s.

Simply staged with a portable setting, the show focuses on Jeff (Matt Bartosch), whose parents (Daniel Behnke and Ellen D. Williams) bring him to the Golden State after all the gold has been pretty well mined. Since it’s still preferable to their native Texas, they stay and become farmers, sharing the land with the American Indians, who become surprising allies.

Jeff and his Indian chum (Eagle Young) begin as wary rivals, but grow over a decade into fast friends as Young and his mother (Williams again) teach him the Native American ways. Silversher’s catchy melodies enhance the 45-minute show.

“Indian Summer” is still available for school bookings through April 6. Interested educators may contact South Coast Repertory at (714) 708-5549 for further information.

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews appear Thursdays.