Players to present ‘The Foreigner’
The Wauwatosa East High School Players have always been known for their ability to entertain on stage.
However, for the play “The Foreigner,” “there are always more laughs” backstage, senior Laura Urban said.
Indeed, with only seven main characters and four extras (a relatively small cast by East theater standards), “everyone gets really close,” junior Brad Halverson said.
“The Foreigner” was written by Larry Shue, a resident playwright and actor with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. The award-winning play, which made it to Broadway, was originally produced by the Milwaukee Rep. in 1983.
This comedic play has a history at East, as well. It was produced by former Director Dale Hidde in 1987 and by current Director Thomas Thaney in 1997.
The play focuses on a shy Englishman named Charlie (played by senior Ryan Stajmiger) who brings his friend Froggy (played by senior Ryan Haller) to a fishing lodge where it is said that Charlie does not know how to speak any English. Charlie has to suffer the consequences of this lie, and, according to Halverson, “hilarity ensues.”
East Theater productions are recognized throughout the community for their technical features. “The Foreigner” is no different.
The show incorporates “actual raindrops on the stage and a hydraulic lift bringing an actor up through a trap door while his costume fills with air, creating a ghostlike figure,” Thaney said.
The actors appreciate the closeness that comes with a small cast.
“I like it better [than a big cast]. It’s a lot easier to work when there are only a few people in the cast,” Urban said.
Junior Kyle Conner agreed: “You can get more work done [with a smaller cast].”
Senior Jackson deJong prefers the small cast, as well.
“A small cast, rather than a large cast, gives the show a more personal feel that will show up on stage,” he said.
Thaney said that for the most part, the good things about having a small cast outweigh the bad.
“[The best] part is that it allows for a special bond in the cast. It gives us more opportunities to share ideas and explore characters in depth,” Thaney said.
Besides the benefits of directing a small cast, Thaney said he selected this play because “it presents a strong message about the evils of bigotry and prejudice against anyone who appears different. It’s a play everyone can relate to.”
The Wauwatosa East Players will present “The Foreigner” on Nov. 13, 14, 20, 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. in the Dale K. Hidde Theatre.
The show will be performed in a black box style, meaning the audience will sit on the stage with the actors. This creates a more intimate setting, but also limits the seats available. Each performance can only seat around 200 people.
Tickets are $14 for adults, $10 for students or seniors, $8 for students with an activity pass and $5 for children. To order, call 773-2004.