The Suffield Players -- Photo Gallery/The Foreigner, page one

The Foreigner, October 2009, page one


Pathologically shy Charlie Baker (Dale T. Facey) is brought by his friend Froggy (Mark Proulx) to a fishing lodge in rural Georgia for some vacation time.	But Charlie has misgivings. Although his wife insisted he leave her in the hospital to recover, Charlie is convinced she did that to get rid of him because he is boring. He doesn't know how to talk to people and would rather be left alone.

Froggy gives Betty Meeks (Cynthia Lee Andersen), the lodge owner, some spoons he obtained in his trips to foreign lands, like Canada. She's fascinated by things foreign, so Froggy tells her Charlie is a real foreigner, who speaks no English at all.	It would have been better if he had told Charlie first, though. When Charlie thanks Betty for the tea, she is thrilled. Froggy says it's the only phrase he knows.

Charlie tells Froggy he doesn't like this trick and plans to tell Betty later, but Rev. David Lee (Christopher Berrien), and an angry Catherine Simms (Brianna Stronk) suddenly appear. She has discovered she's pregnant.	Unaware of Charlie's presence, she chastises David for her condition while he suggests having their wedding date a little earlier than planned. Charlie tries to leave the room quietly, but he's caught.


Betty rescues Charlie from Catherine's wrath and Charlie realizes he has to go along with the charade.	As Owen Musser (James L. Frank-Saraceni) arrives, a mollified Catherine tells David to ask her brother Ellard to bring her a candle when he comes up.

With Owen believing that Charlie cannot understand them, he and David discuss their plans to condemn Betty's property and buy it out from under her. When Ellard arrives, David passes on a doctored version of his sister's request.	Catherine storms downstairs after Ellard (Brian Rucci) brought her a carrot. David tries to be peacemaker, but Catherine is worried that slow-witted Ellard is getting worse. Charlie is upset that he can't reveal that he knows David did tell Ellard to bring a carrot.

The next morning, Charlie calls Froggy, pleading to be taken out of this situation. He has heard far more than is comfortable and he doesn't know what to do with this knowledge.	At breakfast Charlie, unable to hold a conversation, copies everything that Ellard does.

Ellard decides that he'll teach Charlie English. After teaching him "play-ut" (plate) and "foh-werk" (fork), he moves on to "soh-fah." Charlie seems to catch on quickly. (!)	Catherine uses Charlie as a sounding board, expressing her fears about life and her upcoming marriage. He's a very good listener, and she continues pouring out her heart...

...until Ellard bursts in with a wheelbarrow full of new stuff to teach Charlie. Catherine is impressed by her brother's progress.	Rev. Lee is both amused and concerned by the success of Ellard's teaching methods.