at The Burlington County Footlighters' Playhouse

The Foreigner : Full-bodied hijinks down by the fishin’ hole

  

Burlington County Footlighters is a venerable, South Jersey theatrical mainstay about to celebrate its 74^th year in operation. A non-profit corporation, they had been gypsy until 11 years ago, associated but never at home with several venues before lighting upon a permanent base which turns out to be a community theatre’s dream and the envy of many: a former school with its cafeteria converted into a sweet performing space with a cozy, raked house and perfect sight lines. Classroom walls upstairs knocked out provide excellent work and space. But the main thing easing the way when entering the Playhouse is the feeling that you’re coming into your own enchanted room. It feels like home.

You don’t see the playing area upon entering the theatre space. You traverse a passageway, being conducted between worlds, and exit facing a set which is completely satisfying in every way. It’s not beautiful. It shouldn’t be. It’s a fishing lodge in Whatsabathtub, Georgia.  It’s not a glory. It’s not a breath-taker. It’s simply perfect. It is absolutely what the set of The Foreigner should be. Perfect.

The play, a farcical nose-poke at racism, is very funny. You gasp as the villainy of the Rev. David Marshall Lee, played with smarmy charm and righteous viciousness by Timothy Petrillo, is revealed. You cheer when the villainy is exposed by the foreigner himself, former British army officer Charlie (no, it’s not a code, it’s my name) Baker, played with full, sad-eyed wistfulness by Alan Krier.  You are vindicated when Reverend David is popped like a pustule at the end and blurts, “I just wanted it to be a surprise,” when pressed by angry fiancé Catherine Simms, played by Emily Miller Huddell like a steel magnolia in full bloom, about the duplicity of hiding his true self from her. He flees! Hooray! Send the cad packing! Mr. Petrillo, Mr. Krier, and Ms. Huddell packed entertainment in very well. Thank you for your very fine  performances.

The story takes place in the fishing lodge owned by Betty Meeks, played with quirky provincial energy by sprightly Phyllis Josephson. She very comically likes spoons from exotic, far-off places like Canada and Taiwan. Betty Meeks is in a pickle because of corrupt county building inspector Owen Musser, gleefully played by Robert S. Beaucheane who should be given a Golden Cracker award for this romp. Thank you Ms. Josephson, and thank you, Mr. Beaucheane for sharp, funny performances

Instigator of the action and bringer of the story’s climactic end is Daniel Brothers as alcoholic military bomb disposal expert, SSGT. “Froggy” LaSueur. Mr. Brothers is a hoot and a half. To Froggy LaSueur, success is a matter of finding the right approach, and that’s what Mr. Brothers does. Earnestly caring for his former officer, now despondent friend, he contrives the plot twist which leads to the hijinks. He exudes deft, non-com invention and the smoothness of a well-lubricated tongue. Very elegant performance, Mr. Brothres. Thank you. 

The big highlight for me was David Marquart as Ellard Simms. He gives a performance which is spot on in movement, voice and speech. His comic timing kept my laughter set no lower than chuckle any time he was on stage and made it leap contentedly into belly laugh teaching Alan Krier the word “lamp”. Kin yew sigh “lay-ump”? A professional performance, Mr. Marquart. Thank you. Live long and keep working.   

The production is full of high spots: Catherine’s confession to Charlie that life isn’t all she’d hoped was very moving. Ellard and Charie with glasses on their heads at breakfast is a belly laugh. But it is not a perfect production. I have two notes. 

First, please bring down the rain sound when the dialogue starts in the opening scene. Its insistent, looping presence is distracting. Once the rain is  established, we won’t find it odd that it stops and starts.

Second, and more seriously, the show runs too long with just enough glitches to take the very top off the peak enjoyment the audience might have enjoyed given the level of the performances but was unable to attain because it worried something was going to go wrong. So the audience response was good, but less than the actors deserved.

Going to community theatre is often like going to a baseball game. What you count and what you remember are the very exciting highlights. This production, with whatever shortfalls there may be,  has highlights in spades. You don’t want to miss the incomprehensible story, possibly about a tractor, which Alan Krier skips and flops and gurgles randomly in Floppytalk, which he’s inventing on the fly, as he ostensibly tells a great story in his own tongue (named Floppy). You don't want to miss Phyllis Josephson’s ecstatic gush that she especially liked the part about the tractor. It’s very funny. See it. The actors and the Playhouse are worth getting to know and support. 

Click here to see The Burlington County Footlighters' web site.

My reviews are written for Stage Magazine. Click here to take a look. It's a most thorough resource for Delaware Valley theatrical news and information.