The Foreigner Essay | Critical Essay #3

The Foreigner Critical Essay #3

While finding that Shue's play has many humorous moments, Simon ultimately finds The Foreigner short on actual story. The critic offers high praise for the production, however, citing the skills of the actors in particular.

"The Foreigner,'' by (and with) Larry Shue, at Astor Place, is a silly, funny farce, for Shue has a truly humorous and jokey mind and the knack of turning a phrase. A British Army officer, a demolitions expert, comes to an inn in Georgia on some assignment or other, bringing with him a friend called Charlie, whom he must leave there from time to time. Charlie, a shy man, is overcome by panic at the thought of having to make conversation with strangers, so, to protect him, the officer tells the proprietress of the inn that Charlie is a foreigner unable to understand English, much less speak it. That is the premise (and basic...
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