Speaking of Humor

Charlie Baker, a meek Englishman with--even he’ll admit it--”no personality,” flees to the United States to avoid personal problems at home.

To ensure that Charlie doesn’t have to experience any stressful confrontations, his friend “Froggy” LeSueur tells the host family that Charlie, introduced as a foreigner of unspecified origin, speaks no English.

What follows is one of the funniest and most original modern American comedies. Provided, that is, that the actor playing Charlie is a master farceur, capable of maintaining his composure while speaking in a stream of “foreign” gibberish for much of the play.

Five years ago, the Marquie Dinner Theatre presented a production of Larry Shue’s “The Foreigner,” featuring a definitive performance by Martin Horsey as the hapless Charlie. It’s back, with a new director, a new supporting cast, and--praise be!--Horsey.

LeSueur (David Morris), an English soldier stationed temporarily at an Army base near Atlanta, sets Charlie up with a friend (Betty Mann) who operates a run-down fishing lodge remote enough that the locals are able to accept Charlie as a foreigner--having never seen one themselves.

There’s roomer Catherine Simms (Amy Rutledge); her none-too-bright brother, Ellard (John Tomlinson), and Catherine’s fiancee, the kindly Rev. David Lee (Mark Sawyer). Rather less kindly is Owen Musser (Trey King), who enjoys taunting Charlie and who seems suspicious of foreigners, in general.

Charlie may not be able to “speak” English, but he can understand what’s being said, and overhears some dirty work in the planning. What’s he to do, without giving away his secret?

Most of the characters are good-natured stereotypes, played straight, for the most part, under Gary Romm’s direction; the supporting cast is competent and attractive. King’s stupid and mean Owen Musser is a genuinely scary individual.

Horsey has said that this will be his last run as Charlie, that he’s getting too old for the role. That’s subject to argument, and here he seems to throw even more physicality into his portrayal than he did five years ago. “The Foreigner” is by far the best-known of Shue’s five published plays--he died in a 1985 air crash. Would it be asking too much for some local group to investigate “The Nerd” and some of the others?

* “The Foreigner” continues Thursday-Saturday evenings through Aug. 9 at Marquie Dinner Theatre, 340 N. Mobil Ave., Camarillo. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Dinner is served from 7, and the play begins at approximately 8:15. Tickets are $30, which includes the show, a buffet dinner with choice of entrees, nonalcoholic beverages, tax and gratuity. There is a $2 senior discount for all performances. For reservations (mandatory) or information, call (805) 484-9909.

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Comedy in Ojai: A troupe of actors who believe themselves to be the last remaining company to carry on the Renaissance tradition of commedia dell’arte are forced by circumstances to give a command performance. If they satisfy the Duke with their improvisation on a theme of his choosing, he’ll give them enough money to return home--where, it seems, they will disband due to lack of interest from the public or, increasingly, themselves. The theme proposed by the Duke is no less than “the history of mankind.”

“The Company of Wayward Saints,” by playwright George Herman, uses the imaginary group’s predicament to demonstrate commedia dell’arte (a stylized form of presentation involving stock characters and much improvisation, often bawdy). In that sense, the play and Theatre 33’s presentation at the Ojai Art Center both succeed.

Director Tom Eubanks and his cast--featuring Eubanks as the company’s director--have a lot of fun with the script, frequently throwing in local references, anachronisms and other sure-fire laugh generators. It’s when Herman gets serious that “Wayward Saints” strays. When he has a point to make, it’s like Harlequin is hitting you over the head with a bladder full of stale mush. Several strong scenes mostly compensate, though, and the troupe, which includes Michael L. Breese II, Randall Peek, Karen Lee Moncarsh, M. Edward Ditchfield, Amanda Beth Myers, Ron Rowe, Chris Pritchard and Niki Marsh, is largely up to the task. “Single out no one player for your praise,” says Eubanks/Harlequin, so we’ll comply.

* “A Company of Wayward Strangers” continues through Aug. 17 at Ojai Center for the Arts, 113 S. Montgomery St. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, with an additional 2 p.m. matinee Aug. 16. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and art center members, and $7 for children. For reservations, call (805) 987-1780.