"The
Foreigner" Mixes Hilarity and Humanity at Kelsey Theatre Jan. 7-16
Newly
Founded Maurer Productions OnStage Presents Larry Shue's Award-Winning
Comedy
12/9/04
Jolly Old England meets the Old South with hilarious results when Maurer Productions OnStage presents Larry Shue's award-winning comedy, “The Foreigner,” at MCCC's Kelsey Theatre on January 7-9 and January 14-16, 2005. Kelsey Theatre is located on the college's West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. An opening night reception will be held following the January 7 performance. “The
Foreigner” is the first full-length offering from Maurer
Productions OnStage, a new non-profit theatre group founded by
long-time television, film and theatre director John Maurer. The
show, winner of a New York Obie and the Outer Critics Circle Award
for Best Off-Broadway Production, is a good-natured farce with
equal parts humor and humanity. The play features Charlie Baker,
a socially phobic Englishman marooned by a friend in a Georgia
fishing lodge. Charlie cleverly avoids interaction with other
guests by pretending to be a "foreigner" who doesn't
speak or understand English. But when the locals speak freely
in front of him and reveal their many secrets, Charlie's ploy
leads to hilarious and sometimes dangerous consequences. Taking the lead role of the pathetically shy Charlie Baker is Doug Edelson. A 20-year veteran of the stage, Doug was last seen at Kelsey Theatre in the critically acclaimed production of “Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grill.” Dan Spalluto assumes the role of Owen Musser, one of the show’s heavies. As a founding member of the prolific theatre group Like 40 Productions, Dan has become a staple in the local theatre community. His depth of experience on television, in film and Off-Broadway helps anchor the cast. Mark Violi plays the role of Staff Sergeant Froggy LeSeuer, the British demolitions expert and friend who maroons Charlie at the fishing lodge. Mark, an aspiring playwright and experienced actor starred in last season’s “Deathtrap” at Kelsey Theatre. A reading of Mark's new play, “Roebling: The Story of the Brooklyn Bridge,” was held last August at Kelsey. |
 Featured in the cast of “The Foreigner” are: top row, l. to r., Susan Schwirck, Dan Spalluto, David DiLiberto, Meredith McLeod, and Mark Violi; seated, Doug Edelson; front, James Bryan. |
The fishing lodge’s kindly owner, Betty Meeks, is played by Susan Schwirck. A veteran of local stages, Betty was last seen on the Kelsey Theatre stage as Mrs. Beckoff, the mother of all mothers in the popular production of “Torch Song Trilogy.”
Bringing a sassy spark to the cast as the debutante Catherine Simms is recent Rider University graduate Meredith McLeod. She has studied acting for several years, honing her craft in a variety of productions. She played principle roles in classics like “Medea” and “The Tempest,” as well as roles in more contemporary shows like “Plaza Suite” and “Six Degrees of Separation.”
Playing Catherine’s beau, Reverend David Marshall Lee, is David DiLiberto. David is a graduate of both Notre Dame High School and Penn State University, where he was a regular in the theatre productions at both schools.
The youngest member of the cast is James Bryan, who appears as Ellard, the dim-witted younger brother of debutante Catherine. An MCCC theatre student, Bryan has often performed in musical comedies and was last seen as Tackalberry in "“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” at Kelsey.
Maurer Productions OnStage is a non-profit theatre group founded by local stage veteran John Maurer. The mission of OnStage is to make the arts more accessible to central New Jersey residents by producing Broadway-quality productions at community theatre prices. Based at Kelsey Theatre, OnStage produces contemporary theatre in the form of dramas, comedies, musicals, original works, staged readings and children’s entertainment. More information about “The Foreigner” can be found online.
Tickets are $12 for adults, and $10 for seniors, students and children. Free parking is available next to the theatre. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609-584-9444.
Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible and provides assisted listening devices upon request. For a complete listing of adult and children’s events, visit the Kelsey webpage or call the box office for a brochure.
For more on events at Kelsey see:
2004-05
Kelsey Performance Schedule
Ticket Information
Kelsey Kids
Playshops
Audition Information
