Title: The Foreigner
Company: Zao Theater
Playwright : Larry Shue
Director: Mickey Bryce
Compensation: Stipend Pay
Synopsis
In a fishing lodge in rural
Georgia, two Englishmen, Froggy and Charlie, arrive as guests. After pleadings from his sick wife, the shy Charlie agreed to the trip. Froggy then claims that Charlie cannot talk because he is from an exotic country and does not understand English. Residents at the lodge try to talk to Charlie, anyway. Due to his supposed lack of ability to understand English, Charlie soon discovers scandals, and the fun begins.
Genre: Stage/Live:
Casting: Adult
Nudity: No
Crew Needed: Yes
Character Breakdown
Charlie Baker
Age range: 30’ s to early 40’ s
Should be able to speak with an British accent as well as other foreign accents (possibly Slovak or other) Should be willing to be fairly physical
Charlie Baker is the “foreigner” of the play’s title, an Englishman. Initially, Charlie is extremely shy, dull, and morose as he worries about the apparently imminent death of his philandering wife. A proofreader for an English science fiction magazine, Charlie considers himself “boring” and wonders what it would be like to have a vibrant personality. At the beginning of the play, Charlie is so sad and shy that he doesn’t want to speak to anyone. When Froggy introduces
him as a “foreigner” who can’t speak or understand English however, Charlie reluctantly takes on the role. He gradually discovers his hidden potential: leadership skills, love, and the vibrant personality he has always craved.
Reverend David Marshall Lee
Age range: late 20’ to early 40’s
Should be able to speak with a Southern accent
The Reverend David Marshall Lee is a good-looking man, the fiancé of Catherine, and one of the main villains in the play, along with Owen Musser. Pretending to be concerned about Betty and her struggling business, David secretly attempts to gain control of her lodge so he can turn it into the Tilghman County headquarters for the Ku Klux Klan. David appears to be friendly,
sincere, genuinely decent, kind, and patient, and he is quite canny in carrying out his devious plot.
Staff Sergeant Froggy LeSueur
Age range: mid 30’s to 50’s
Should be able to speak with a heavy British accent
Confident and sure of
himself
Froggy is a demolitions expert from the British Army who brings his friend, Charlie Baker, to Georgia for a three-day weekend. In his annual visits to the United States, Froggy has become good friends with Betty Meeks and is genuinely concerned about her welfare. When Charlie pleads for solitude during his brief stay, Froggy is caught between his loyalties to both Betty and Charlie, so he hatches the plan to pass Charlie off as a
“foreigner.” Froggy’s plan is for Betty to be charmed by the exotic visitor, while Charlie gets his needed peace and quiet. Froggy speaks with a Cockney accent, is dressed in his army fatigues, and is extremely cheerful and very sure of himself. He is loud and leads a very exciting life, almost the exact opposite of Charlie.
Betty Meeks
Age range: 50’ s to 60’ s
Should be able to speak with a thick Southern accent.
Not afraid of a good days labor
Betty Meeks is an older woman, a widow, and the owner and operator of the fishing lodge and resort in which the play takes place. Betty has always dreamed of traveling outside of Georgia and is quite thrilled with the
prospect of having a “real, live foreigner” as her guest. Since the death of her husband, Betty has been struggling to keep her resort business alive, unaware of David and Owen’s underhanded plot to gain control of it. Betty speaks with a strong Georgia accent, and talks to Charlie, “the foreigner,” as if he were deaf, as if speaking louder and slower will facilitate Charlie’s understanding.
Owen Musser
Age range: mid 30’s to 50’s
Should be able to speak with a thick Southern accent.
Neanderthal in nature and a very angry person.
Owen Musser is a local Georgia man who serves as the henchman for the main villain, the Reverend David Lee. After being named the property
inspector for Tilghman County, Georgia, Owen takes full advantage of his new authority to help himself as well as cause harm to others. To call Owen “crude” is to indulge in understatement: he is mean-spirited, ignorant, volatile, and extremely prejudiced against anyone who doesn’t fit his ideal of “Christian, white America.” A character you love to hate and a very fun role.
Catherine
Simms
Age range: mid 20’s to 30’s
Should be able to speak with a Southern accent
Attractive younger woman
Catherine is staying with Betty at the lodge. She is engaged to the Reverend David Lee, unaware of his true, villainous character. A former debutante and the heiress of a huge fortune, Catherine is
bored with life, restless, and unsure of what she wants. In the beginning, she is a bit of a whiner and somewhat sarcastic. When she discovers in Charlie a man who is genuinely kind and really enjoys listening, she believes she has found her ideal romantic mate. Catherine is small in stature and pretty.
Ellard Simms
Age range: 20’
s
Should be able to speak with a Southern accent
Overgrown, backward youth
Ellard is the youngest of the cast, and Catherine’s younger brother, an extremely insecure young man who is considered by others to be mentally defective. An overgrown, backward youth, who spends much of his time kneading something tiny and invisible in front of his chest. Catherine
has promised to give Ellard half of their very large inheritance if he shows any signs of mental and social competence. During the course of the play Ellard proves to have both moderate intelligence and considerable courage.
Additional Info
Zao Theater began in 2014 with a
desire to produce quality live theater in the Valley, and to give back to the community. 10% of all ticket sales are donated to a worthy charity for each production. Zao Theater premiered in October 2014 with a production of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple. Founder Matt Bowker is committed to ensuring the finest quality in every production. Performances are held at Centerstage Church, 3700 E. 16th Ave., Apache Junction, AZ, 85119, in their newly equipped theatrical space/worship center.
www.zaotheater.com
What To Prepare Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script
Call For Crew Stage Manager, Props, Front
of House Manager
Audition Details
Centerstage Church
3700 E. 16th Ave.
Apache Junction, Arizona 85119
east on the US 60, exit at Goldfield north, stay on Goldfield to 16th Ave. (between Southern and Broadway) east on 16th Ave. to the church.
Headshots/Resume Required (NO Web Links)
By
Appointment: Email ONLY
Audition Dates and Times:
Monday night, February 2nd, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Callback Dates and Times:
Tuesday night, February 3rd 6:00 PM (if necessary)
Primary Contact:
Mickey Bryce
