The lovely Catherine Simms (Allison MacDonald), a benefactor of a substantial inheritance, is living in the lodge with her dim-witted younger brother, Ellard Simms (Michael Oravec). We soon find out she is pregnant by her fiance, the Reverend David Lee (Wilson Adam Schooley). Catherine reveals much to Baker, including her second thoughts about her pending nuptials. Ellard is not near as intellectually fragile as we are first led to believe (Oravec has given his character a strange, charming physicality that works perfectly). Schooley's religious zealot Rev. Lee easily swings from a charming minister and betrothed to an evil, manipulating proponent of white supremacy. Schooley allows controlled moments of his character's evil underbelly to escape for mere, masterly seconds. The true redneck is embodied in the character Owen Musser (James E. Steinberg), who has absolutely no redeeming qualities. His object is simply to rid Georgia of everybody who does not meet his KKK beliefs. Steinberg, in this role, is very easy to hate.
Director Rethoret designed a very homey set, giving the warmth of a country lodge. Karina Montgomery dressed the set as well as did the music design, while Mike Shaffer designed the special-effects sound. Bruce Wilde's lighting design accents the set nicely. Brenda Leake's costumes work well for this production.
The Foreigner has many of the properties of a morality play. Baker learns that Catherine is pregnant, sees the evilness of Rev. Lee and Owen, finds the innocent intelligence of Ellard, the vulnerability of Catherine and beauty of Betty Meeks. In his inimitable way, Baker aids the weak and thwarts the evildoers and, in so doing, his life changes.
This is Larry Shue's masterpiece. It is also one of the best productions, in a season of excellent productions, at OnStage Theatre in Chula Vista. Well worth your drive, even from Escondido.
