This past weekend I had the pleasure of seeing the New Embassy Theatre’s production of Larry Shue’s “The Foreigner,” a funny and ultimately touching play about a personality-challenged, jilted husband who pretends not to speak English in order to avoid having to interact with the owner and guests at a small fishing lodge in rural Georgia.

Directed by Tom Shanklin (who also turns in a great performance as slow-witted Ellard Simms), and starring Mark Ashby, Daniel Cope, Marta Fiscus, Linda Julien, Richard Wydro and Tom Vogtman, the story was humorous, and the performances nuanced and engaging.

In a role that has been performed off-Broadway by Matthew Broderick, Mark Ashby as “the foreigner” displays a similar ability to portray both a socially inept sad-sack at the beginning of the play, passively taking on the traits that the other characters bestow on his silent persona, and the transformed man that he later becomes.

And, as always, the rest of the talented cast did a wonderful job of portraying their characters; I could go on about each performance if I had the space.

Being a relative newcomer to the area, I feel lucky to be living in a place where there is such an abundance of talent, and such a wide variety of theatre, music and art offered at reasonable prices and within easy reach.

In order for these venues and galleries to continue providing such an array of talent, it is vital that the community support the arts by patronizing them.

In these days of tight budgets, residents of the Cumberland area are fortunate to have a wide range of local entertainment choices that will not break the bank.

“The Foreigner” runs through Nov. 22. I highly recommend it for an enjoyable evening’s (or Sunday afternoon’s) entertainment.

Pam Reynolds

The Bruce House

Cumberland