The Port Townsend High School Players open their 2010 season with the thoughtful comedy “The Foreigner,” written by Larry Shue, on Friday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium.

While the play is aptly described as “a modern comic farce,” it also has a dark side. Themes of toleration, bigotry and deception are explored through realistic characters and believable situations.

The action of the play takes place at Betty Meeks’ secluded fishing lodge in rural Georgia in the 1980s. Sgt. “Froggy” LeSueur, a demolitions expert, brings his friend Charlie Baker to the resort for a break from his stressful life back in England. They create a well-intentioned plan to maintain Charlie’s privacy by saying he is a “foreigner” who can’t speak any English, but the plan hilariously backfires when he becomes the perfect person with whom all share their deepest secrets and schemes.

Jason Noltemeier plays the lovable but socially inept Brit, Charlie, who desperately tries to avoid the local yokels. Sam Gordon portrays Charlie’s boisterous friend Sgt. “Froggy” LeSueur, and Mackenzie Sepler is the naïve widow Betty Meeks. Catherine Simms, an ex-debutante engaged to the local reverend, is played by Taelor Hill. Her slow but sweet little sister, Ella, is played by Rose Burt. Forrest Walker portrays the mysterious Rev. David, and Raven McMillan plays Owen Musser, Tilghman County property inspector, who hatches a nefarious plan to get Betty to sell the lodge for much less that it’s worth. The local townspeople are portrayed by Morrea Henderson, Emily Huntingford, Rosie Lambert, Marlee Howard, Payton Wood, Daniel Peters and Miles Euro.

Director Jennifer Nielsen says, “These student actors have worked together on several shows and have developed great rapport, which is evident in their comic timing.” She explains that it is a relatively small cast, but there will be more acting opportunities for students this year because of the newly reinstated drama class and the spring show, “Batboy, the Musical,” which has a larger cast.

Another addition to the drama program this year is Jim Guthrie’s new theater tech class. These students worked on building and painting the set to resemble the interior of a rustic fishing lodge. As they help with all technical aspects of the show, they learn what it takes to create the magic behind the scenes.

Steve Arbuckle handles the lighting design and technical direction. Recent Port Townsend grad Libby Strickland is the costume designer. Angela Agnew will work her magic with hair and make-up, and the backstage crew includes students Karling Rutenbeck, Madeline Levy, Claire Surber, Megan Walsh, Allison Tuuri and Eamon Clarke.

“The Foreigner” plays Friday and Saturday evenings through Saturday, Nov. 20. Admission prices are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students without an ASB card, and $3 for children younger than 12 and students with an ASB. While the show is appropriate for all ages, very small children might be frightened by some special effects, which include thunder, lightning and explosions. Tickets are available at the door only. The box office opens at 6 p.m., and the doors open at 6:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to reserve tickets for a group of 10 or more should call the PTHS office at 379-4520.