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Provision Theater Company
The Foreigner Reviews
Centerstage - Highly Recommended
"... It’s by no means an ingeniously constructed farce: it relies heavily on its characters being conveniently stupid at all the right moments. Still, those characters are extremely endearing. Charlie’s transformation, and his ennobling effects on those around him, is not only funny but thrilling to watch."
Time Out Chicago - Recommended
"...Staying in what might be the most jingoistic bed & breakfast in Georgia, Charlie Baker (Rod Armentrout), a socially inept Brit, pretends not to speak English in an effort to avoid having to communicate. Inadvertently giving himself a furriner’s mystique, the nervous introvert becomes a window to the world for the folksy, homebody innkeeper (Glory Kissel), a therapeutic sounding board for an unhappily engaged woman (Brit Cooper Robinson) and a threat to the community’s Deliverance-type xenophobes (Colin Wasmund as a redneck loon and Chris Amos as a charismatic and sinister reverend, looking like a cross between Joel Osteen and Mitt Romney). The subsequent antics yield predictable, lighthearted fun, but it’s Alex Goodrich as the daft boy Ellard who becomes this Foreigner’s regular scene-stealer."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...This charming comedy is full of clever plot twists that will surprise you. We stay with story expecting predictable situations but we delightfully enjoy the quirky surprises. The laughs come from word play, physical comedy and from the rich in-character responses. Shue garners laughs as Ellard teaches Charlie English and also when Charlie teaches the clan his pig-Latin language. I appreciated the stage craft of this cast, especially Kissel, Armentrout and Goodrich. This is a smart, totally engaging and terrifically performed comedy that quickly grabs us and keeps us laughing and guessing what will happen next. We all need a funny show during these dark cold winter days. Provision Theater has a winner with The Foreigner – don’t miss it!"
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"... The clever adventure behind “The Foreigner” demands the upmost attention from its ensemble, and Gregory garnered the best performances from his cast. Comedic timing was top notch, which greatly gave clarity to the farce Shue intended behind his play. There were so many strong moments among the ensemble as they interacted with Charlie, and even better moments from Rod Armentrout as he could only stare at them, unable to speak in fear of breaking the lie he has created. Was there a weakest link amongst them? I deeply think otherwise. Each cast member delivered fully on their character choices and stayed true to their intentions, giving audiences a fun reminder of why “The Foreigner” is such a fan favorite."