The Foreigner

By Larry Shue Directed by Chris Ayles April 15 - May 7 , 2011 Chris Ayles, a founding member of Role Players Ensemble, returns to RPE to direct The Foreigner. Chris, who has acted and directed for many years in professional theatres in both the UK and in the East Bay, appeared in the Ensemble’s premier production - Loveliest Afternoon of the Year ,in 1983.. This was held in the International Village Courtyard (now the Town and Country) in Danville.

Chris said, “There is no better entertainment than farce done well. The Foreigner is a classic farce with all the elements of people caught up in ever increasing absurdity. Absurdity that starts with a perfectly rational set of circumstance.”

The Foreigner received two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards as Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway production. Playwright Larry Shue’s career was cut short at the age of 39 when he died in a plane crash in Virginia. Commenting on the effects of his comedies (he also wrote The Nerd) Shue is quoted as saying, “You have tired, neurotic people filing in and and you have kids coming out giggling and flirting.”

Jerry Motta appears as Charlie Baker in The Foreigner. Jerry, a multiple Shellie award recipient for Role Players, last appeared for Role Players in Incorruptible and Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Sylvia Burboeck, who was critically acclaimed for her role as Eleanor in RPE’s, The Lion in Winter will be Catherine Simms and Janice Fuller Leone, returns to RPE as Betty Meeks, following her role as Grandma in Lost in Yonkers. The cast also includes Fred Sharkey, (Froggy LeSueur), Vincent Faso (David Marshall Lee) Kyle Green (Owen Musser) and Ben Oldham (Ellard Simms).

Danville website: Town of Danville and Role Players Ensemble