"The Foreigner"

A perfectly paced production of Larry Shue’s acclaimed script continues to deliver a-laugh-a-minute laced with disquieting insights into aspects of our society and culture. Charlie Baker considers himself shy and boring. When he arrives at a rural Georgia vacation lodge he panics. His friend Froggy devises a plan for Charlie to pretend to be a foreigner who cannot speak English to excuse Charlie from having to be sociable. Well, the plot thickens into a stew of humanity and the cast rises to the challenge with fully dimensional characters who reveal their true selves during two raucous acts. Jeff Stockberger is a standout Charlie, twisting body and soul into gyrations that turn him inside out. Ty Stover’s Froggy is loveably gregarious. Kate Braun’s Betty becomes totally endearing with wide-eyed wonderment. David Schmittou’s David suavely evolves as an Iago clone. Sarah Hunt plays all the up and down emotions to prove her mettle. Daniel Scharbrough meticulously crafts Owen seething with self and everyone else loathing. David Purdy grows Ellard into personhood and half the family fortune. No matter how many other times you’ve seen The Foreigner, you’ll find many parts to laugh louder at and/or to jolt you out of believing hatred is out of fashion. No one is immune from being taken in by David’s slickness or safe from Owen’s pathological vengeance. Curry’s deft directing is particularly laudatory in the showstopper breakfast scene amidst a deluge of mad-cap moments, one-liners, malapropisms and double entendres. Michael Layton’s scenic and lighting design, Jeff Keel’s music selections and Terry Woods’ costumes extend the action. Daniel Hessebrock’s sound design is well balanced, though one has to believe these seasoned actors don’t need mics. 317-872-9664; www.beefandboards.com.Through Feb. 7.—Rita Kohn