The British are coming to UTM. Rehearsals are underway for Vanguard Theatre’s The Foreigner, a comedy about Charlie, an impossibly shy Brit, who travels with his friend to rural Georgia.

Vanguard Theatre presents its spring production Feb. 24 to Feb. 27 in the Harriet Fulton Theatre, which is located in the Fine Arts Building. In addition to Friday and Saturday night performances, a Dinner Theatre, catered by Sodexho, will be offered.

The Foreigner, written by Larry Shue, premiered in 1984 as an Off-Broadway show. Since then, hundreds of productions of this play have been performed across the United States, including a New York revival that starred Matthew Broderick.

Charlie, played by Derrick Casey, a sophomore Theater major from Humboldt, agrees to accompany his friend Froggy, played by Eric Danz a junior Biology major from Martin, to get a break from his menial job as a proof-reader for a science fiction magazine and his marriage to his unfaithful wife.

Because of Charlie’s shy nature, Froggy informs Betty, the owner of the fishing lodge where Charlie will be staying, that he is a foreigner who does not speak a word of English. Betty, played by Jennifer Horbelt a sophomore Theatre major from Memphis, fascinated by the idea of a foreigner staying in her establishment, willingly agrees not to bother Charlie with the discomfort of conversation and proceeds to tell the other guests of the lodge that he is incapable of understanding English.

Unfortunately for Charlie, the plan backfires when the misconception that he is foreign places Charlie in situations to hear all the darkest secrets of the other guests of the lodge who believe he does not understand what they are telling him. Charlie inevitably discovers that Rev. David Marshall Lee, played by B. J. Keeton a senior English major from Lawrenceburg, and Owen Musser, played by Jared Walters a junior Communications major from Bethel Springs, are plotting against Betty. A series of comedic events and high jinks ensues as Charlie must put a stop to the villains’ plans.

“People will definitely laugh. If they don’t, there is something wrong,” said Nick Mounts, a freshman Theatre major from Centerville, who plays the half-wit brother of the Reverend’s fiancé, played by Jody Stokes of Trenton.

Ken Zimmerman, Assistant Professor of Visual and Theater Arts, is directing the production of The Foreigner with the help of the student Stage manager, Adrien Eubank a junior Theater major from Crossville.

One of the challenges the student actors must face when performing is the difference in performing in a comedy rather than a more serious play like last semester’s production, Animal Farm, which many of the actors starred in.

“This play will be hard to perform in front of people because their laughter will spark laughter in us,” said Derrick Casey, who plays Charlie.

Other cast members of the all-student cast include: James Baker of Middleton, Jessica Eslinger of Newport, Joyce Harris of Dyersburg, Grant Pugh of Milan, Tim Rainey of Huntington and Ana Shaw of Knoxville.

The cast seem to enjoy performing a comedy and their roles in this play.

“I like playing a redneck. It’s fun,” said Jared Walters, who has previously only worked backstage on other Vanguard productions.

Performances are set to begin at 8 p.m. Thurs.,Fri. and Sa. At 3 p.m. on Sunday, the matinee performance will begin. The dinner buffet featuring prime rib will begin in the Fine Arts Building lobby at 6:30 p.m. before the Fri. and Sat. performances.

Tickets for dinner and the play will be $28 for adults and $23 for students. Tickets for the show only will be $10 for adults and $5 for students. Reservations for both will be available after Feb. 20 and can be made by calling (731) 587-7090.