Gallery 7 Theatre will culminate its 2012/2013 ‘Theatre for Life!’ Season with Larry Shue’s hilarious comedy, The Foreigner, starting on June 7th. Winner of two Obie and two Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production, The Foreigner is considered to be one of the most-performed and most-loved modern comedies.
“With summer just around the corner, it seems only fitting we celebrate the arrival of this long-awaited season with a comedy,” says Gallery 7 Theatre’s Executive/Artistic Director, Ken Hildebrandt. “The Foreigner is pure fun, filled with adventure, intrigue, and even a touch of romance. And for those looking for a little spiritual and intellectual nourishment, there are a few ‘food-for-thought’ things sprinkled in as well about relationships, self-actualization, racism and truth vs. lies.”
The story goes something like this: Charlie, a pathologically shy person, is a little down on his luck of late. His best friend “Froggy”, a munitions expert in the British Army, treats Charlie to a vacation at a small fishing lodge in rural Georgia. To help his introverted friend, Froggy announces to all that Charlie is from an exotic foreign country and can’t speak a lick of English. And so the fun begins. As Charlie listens in on sinister plots and scandalous revelations, he unwittingly becomes the catalyst to righting what has been wronged. Written by one of America’s great comic writers, this is a hilarious play with a classic ‘good versus bad’ story at its heart.
Playing the demure Charlie is Andrew Abrahams. Abrahams has appeared on the Gallery 7 stage numerous times in such shows as Peter Pan, The Matchmaker and Robinson Crusoe. Playing the role of Betty Meeks, the frail yet friendly proprietor of the fishing lodge is Shelley Picard, who last performed in the company’s production of The Fantasticks. Newcomer, Stefanie Cornell, plays the role of the distraught Catherine Simms, and her brother Ellard is played by Kenzie Hall. Jay Danzinger, last seen in Robinson Crusoe, plays the Reverend David Marshall Lee, while Joel Loeve takes on the role of Owen Musser. Michael McIntyre plays the role of Charlie’s best friend, Froggy.
Directing this talented cast is Carrissa Boynton, whose credits at Gallery 7 Theatre include Robinson Crusoe and Tuesdays with Morrie. Set design is by John Bessette, costume design is by Vicki Bolan, lighting design is by Bryan Cutler, sound design is by Ron Jackson and the make-up design is by Amanda Thiessen and Kara Reynolds-Narciso. The stage manager is Kat Beswick and production photographer is Dianna Lewis of Creative Memory Studios.
The Foreigner runs June 7 & 8, 13 – 15, 22 – 23, 2013 @ 7:30 PM with additional discount matinees on June 8, 15 & 23 @ 2:00 PM at the MEI Auditorium, 4081 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford. Tickets for evening performances are $20 Adults, $18 Seniors and Students, $17 Groups (8+) and $12.00 Children (12 & under). Matinee performances are $15 General and $12.00 Children.
Tickets can be purchased at the House of James, 2743 Emerson Street, Abbotsford or by calling 604-852-3701 or 1-800-665-8828. To order tickets online, or for more information about the show and Gallery 7 Theatre, please visit www.gallery7theatre.com.
PHOTO CAPTION:
(left to right) Andrew Abrahams and Joel Loeve perform a scene in Gallery 7 Theatre’s production of The Foreigner by Larry Shue. Photo by Dianna Lewis, Creative Memory Studios.