The Saint Francis Stage Company

 is pleased to announce its third annual theatre production,

"The Man Who Came to Dinner"  

Shows on January 6, 7, 13, & 14, 2012 at 8 PM

January 8 & 13, 2012 at 2 PM

"Not your usual 'Church Plays'. It's great, professional caliber theater that just happens to be at a Church!"

Rene Haynes C.S.A.
Emmy nominated Casting Director

 

Please call the Parish office for more information at

818-504-4400 

Check out the great article in the Burbank Leader on the 2010 production-  

Burbank Leader Review

http://www.burbankleader.com/articles/2010/01/13/entertainment/gnp-foreigner011310.1.txt

Theater Review:
‘Foreigner’ provides a comical night

 

 

By Liana Aghajanian

Published: Last Updated Tuesday, January 12, 2010 10:44 PM PST

When “The Foreigner” debuted in 1983 in Milwaukee and went on to be produced in New York, writer Frank Rich gave Larry Shue’s play a less-than-flattering review, calling the plot preposterous and citing it as “convoluted shenanigans” in the New York Times.

It is unfortunate that Rich, as well as Shue, who died in a plane crash less than two years after its debut, weren’t able to see the St. Francis Stage Company’s production of this delightfully enthralling comedy about a stuffy Englishman’s adventures in rural Georgia, which not only had a full house at its debut weekend, but was a laugh-out-loud hit from beginning to end.

Charlie Baker (Daniel Roebuck), an uptight and shy English proofreader at a science fiction magazine, accompanies Sgt. Froggy LeSeuer (John Goodwin) in a cross-Atlantic trip to Georgia for a few days away from his ill, adulterous wife. Although Froggy tries to reassure him about the trip, his reservations about interacting with Betty Meeks (Vicki Dlugolecki) and other guests at Meeks Lodge overwhelmingly begin to worry the timid and self-proclaimed boring Charlie.

“I’ve often wondered,” he asks, “how does one go about acquiring a personality?”

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To save his friend the trouble, Froggy coyly tells Betty that Charlie is a foreigner from an exotic, undisclosed country who doesn’t speak any English, much to the local lodge owner’s excitement. Betty, a charming Southern woman, is already a handful for Charlie, with or without communication, but his troubles grow as he realizes that Catherine Simms (Pamela Zappia), an ex-deb engaged to the Rev. David Marshall Lee (Mike Maddigan) and her mentally challenged brother Ellard (Chris Kennedy) are also staying at Meeks Lodge.

Roebuck, a 25-year film veteran and the play’s director, shines as Charlie — with a believable English accent to boot. Roebuck isn’t the only one on point throughout the two-act play. Owen Musser is so accurately and authentically portrayed by Jim Roope that it’s hard to get enough of this good-for-nothing, tattooed, toothpick-yielding troublemaker. From Charlie to Betty and the hilarious crowd-pleasing antics of Ellard, who takes it upon himself to teach Charlie English, the performances and delivery are so pleasing that it’s easy to forget you’re watching a play at Holy Cross Hall.

Maddigan is perfect as sinister minister Lee, whose charming facade slowly unravels as the play moves forward and reveals just how misguided he is.

“God helps those who help themselves,” he declares to Charlie as one scene comes to a close.

“The Foreigner” is no high-brow play, and it doesn’t necessarily have you coming away with some profound understanding of the world, but it does make one thing clear: Accepting others for their looks, beliefs and behaviors can make a world of positive difference in your life and the lives of others.

The St. Francis Stage Company’s production of “The Foreigner” will entertain even the most pessimistic of theater-goers — its playful demeanor, as well as its intricate set design by Brad Recker that was supplemented by the Glendale Centre Theatre makes it a memorable event full of surprises, antics and above all, fun.

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About the writer LIANA AGHAJANIAN is a journalist covering arts, culture, news and more for print and online publications in Los Angeles and beyond. About the writer LIANA AGHAJANIAN is a journalist covering arts, culture, news and more for print and online publications in Los Angeles and beyond.