PREVIEW: Guest director Evans offers “The Foreigner” as HUTC’s last show of the season

Photo by Catherine Rinchak

The Huntington University Theatre Company will be offering up its last production of the season, Larry Shue’s “The Foreigner,” next week, starting Tuesday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m.

The Huntington University Theatre Company will be offering up its last production of the season, Larry Shue’s “The Foreigner,” next week, starting Tuesday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m.

In “The Foreigner,” Charlie Baker, an extremely shy man, leaves England and accompanies his friend Staff Sergeant Froggy LeSueur to Georgia to spend time at a fishing lodge. While there, Froggy convinces the locals that Charlie doesn’t speak English in order to save him from starting small talk. His plan backfires when all of the locals end up confessing their deepest secrets to Charlie, believing that he can’t understand them.

The cast is led by seniorJosh Cookingham (Charlie) and junior Dom Corsoe (Froggy), and includes seniors Meagan Heffner and Kate Smith, junior Nate Adams, sophomores Stephen Planalp and Charles Booth and freshmen Kyle Lindsey, Matthew Burtless-Creps and Lauren Sowers.

The theatre department brought in guest director Scott Evans to lead the production team.

Evans, who has worked in professional theatre for about 17 years, said that he has been impressed by HU students throughout the course of the production.

“I’m thoroughly impressed with the creativity, talent, and commitment of the students, faculty and staff here at Huntington,” he said.

Jay Duffer, assistant professor of theatre arts, said that bringing in guest directors is an important part of the training that theatre students receive at HU.

“It exposes them to working professionals in the industry,” said Duffer. “Scott is a knowledgeable and gifted artist. He’s also a great contact for our students once they enter the business.”

Evans said that “The Foreigner” celebrates the human spirit.

“[It shows] our ability to bring out the good in others and reminds us that we are often times capable of more than anyone expects, including ourselves,” he said.

The show runs in the Merillat Centre for the Arts Studio Theatre April 24-27 at 7:30 p.m., and April 28 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 students and seniors, $6 children 13 & under and $5 for HU students. Tickets can be purchased in the box office.