'The Foreigner' at the Metropolis fails to hit home
"The Foreigner" has a brilliant premise: a man who masks his shyness by pretending he cannot speak English finds himself entangled in one awkward situation after another because everyone assumes he can't comprehend what they say.
The play by Larry Shue is one of those well-structured, finely polished plays that make you sit back and admire the writer's sheer artistry.
Unfortunately, a well-written play is not guarantee of a successful show. The revival of Shue's play currently running at the Metropolis in Arlington Heights misses the mark.
The problem isn't the quality of the production. As is usual at the Metropolis, the sound
is terrific and the sight lines are first rate. And Ian Zywica's set, which recreates the look of a rustic fishing lodge, is gorgeous. But, as they say, no one ever left a comedy chuckling over how well-designed the set was.
The first act fails to live up to its hilarious potential. The second act, which contains
the show's madcap buildup and wild climax in which the shy bumbler becomes a hero, is only a
little better.
Part of the problem may be the fact that the performances are too earnest; everyone
seems determined to play the depth of Shue's brilliant characters, at the expense of the show's
comedy.
Or maybe it was a matter of casting. Mickey Crocker is wonderfully daffy as the
proprietor of a the Lodge Resort where the foreigner is staying. But Craig Gustafson just doesn't seem right as the title character: he is neither sympathetic enough or funny enough for Shue's material. Eric Martin never seems evil and two-faced enough to be convincing as the play's villain. And Jes Bedwinek doesn't generate many laughs as the easily angered, much put-upon girlfriend.
The problem could be David Belew's direction. It is the director's job to make sure the actors don't miss their marks literally or figuratively.
Without an ensemble that knows how to release all the comedy buried in the script, this
"Foreigner" falls flat.
"The Foreigner"
Facts: Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights, (847) 577-2121; MetropolisArts.com
Times: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 21
Running time: About 21/2 hours with intermission
Tickets: $26-$42
Parking: Free street parking
Rating: For teens and older, mild sexual language