“Froggy” LeSueur—Alisa Isaacs Bailey
Charlie Baker—TJ Tincher
Betty Meeks—Kathy Arnold
Rev. David Marshall Lee—Cameron Callahan
Catherine Simms—Samantha Flannelly
Owen Musser—Bill Weiland
Ellard Simms—Cameron Wunderlich
Tech Crew
Darvell Barger- Sound Operator
Nicole Moore- Light Operator
Stage Crew
Mason Allen- Stage Manager
George Arnold- Stage Crew
Haley Wilson- Stage Crew
Click HERE to read the script.
Read about the play HERE.
Synopsis of the play (plot spoilers):
In a rural fishing lodge in Georgia, Froggy LeSueur, a British
demolitions expert who sometimes runs training sessions at a
nearby military installation, is trying to put his friend,
Charlie Baker at ease. Charlie, a proofreader whose wife finds
him boring, has come along for a much needed getaway. The
problem is he is pathologically shy and is terrified at the
prospect of having to converse with strangers at the lodge for
three days.
Froggy must leave to tend to his military responsibilities, so,
in an attempt to help his shy friend, he tells Betty, the owner
of the lodge, that Charlie is from an exotic foreign country and
neither speaks nor understands English.
Thus, conversations at the lodge carry on around Charlie much as
if he weren’t there at all, since it is assumed he can’t
understand them anyway. For example, Catherine Simms informs her
fiancé, the reverend David Marshall Lee, that he isn’t as sterile
as he said he was and that she’s pregnant.
Owen Musser, county property inspector who has been threatening
to condemn the lodge, wants a private conversation with the
Reverend David. In the process, Charlie overhears a plot to
undermine the value of the lodge through condemnation so that
David can buy it at a bargain price. In addition, Ellard Simms,
Catherine’s slow-witted brother, appears on the scene, and it
becomes apparent that David is trying to make him appear to be an
idiot so that he can’t inherit his half of the family money.
Through little effort on his part, Charlie endears himself to
almost everyone by being a good listener (much better than they
know) as they relate their problems to him. He doesn’t judge, nor
does he give advice. So, Ellard tries his hand at teaching Charlie
to speak English. Maybe poor Ellard isn’t so stupid after all, as
Charlie makes him seem to be a natural teacher.
David and Owen soon appear with a box of ledgers, records and even
dynamite, apparently salvaged from a fire of some sort. Owen’s van
contains weapons and uniforms enough to reunite the “Georgia Empire.”
Froggy returns and is surprised at how well his shy friend is doing.
Charlie entertains by relating a story in a strange, unintelligible
dialect. Froggy agrees to return the next day, and, in private,
Charlie reveals that he is having a wonderful time and may even be
acquiring a personality.
Owen returns and Charlie has some fun tormenting him. David shows up
with his new van, and Charlie demonstrates how well Ellard has taught
him in just two days. Catherine agrees that Ellard is indeed smart
enough to receive his part of the inheritance, much to the dismay of
David, who decides a hasty marriage to Catherine might be in his best
interest after all.
Charlie agrees to teach a bit of his “native tongue,” and has a good
deal of fun at Owen and David’s expense. Owen, unable to stand any
further torment, rages that the Klan will soon be coming to purge the
land of foreigners. As Act One concludes, the power has been cut off
and the lodge is in virtual isolation and darkness as everyone turns
to Charlie for a solution.
As promised, the Klan appears, torches blazing. Through a series of
tricks involving Ellard, a trap door and a croquet mallet, the Klan
is vanquished and David is exposed for what he really is.
Froggy returns, ready for the “vacation” and Charlie’s masquerade to
end. By mutual agreement, Charlie decides to stay on with his friends
at the lodge as “The Foreigner” in order to teach and be taught.