By Isaiah Smith/entertainment editor

A comedy of deception ends the South Campus drama season next week.

The Foreigner, a play by Larry Shue, follows a group of devious characters as they interact with a man they believe knows no English.

“ It’s a very funny play, and there’s lots of different themes and ideas behind it,” Jason Morgan, director of the play, said.

“ The main character is named Charlie [played by Aaron Plaskonos]; he’s let society define who he is,” he said.

After receiving some shocking news, Charlie goes on a trip with a friend who leaves him at a cabin to gather his thoughts.

His friend tells the owner of the cabin, and everyone else, that Charlie cannot speak English.

“ It’s really a crowd-pleasing play,” Morgan said.

“ You’re not a community theater until you’ve done this play … lots of running in and out of doors, slapstick-stuff, mistaken identities,” he said.

Whitney Fawcett, who plays Catherine Simms, found the play both deep and humorous.

“ I think the play is a comedy, but it’s got a lot of issues that are very interesting and important even today: racial issues, religious issues,” she said.

They are put in a funny context so that the audience can relate to them,” Fawcett said.

Cody Whitten, who plays the Rev. David Marshall Lee, finds the play a fun, ensemble piece.

“ There’s so much excitement going on in the play; it’s hard to pinpoint what it’s about,” he said.

Whitten said the interaction between characters is especially funny.

“ Two guys come in. There are twists and turns along the road with what he [Charlie] knows and what we think he knows,” he said. “It’s a non-stop laugh riot. I burst out laughing three or four times just reading the thing.”

Skye Owens, who plays Ellard Simms, anticipates the audience’s reaction.

“ I don’t know if we’ve ever done anything as controversial as this, but I think they’re really going to like it if they pay attention to everything,” she said.

Morgan is pleased with the results of rehearsals.

“ The cast is doing well,” he said. “It should be a really good show.”

The Foreigner will run April 26-28, 7:30-10 p.m., in the Carillon Theatre. Reservations are not required, but no late seating is allowed. TCC students, staff and faculty get in for free; general admission is $6, and other students and seniors get in for $3.