We just opened a show this week at the Florida Gulf Coast University TheatreLab called "The Foreigner." It's a story about a boring British man who gets made into an interesting foreign man by his friend. Set in a rural fishing lodge in Georgia, this comedy keeps you guessing from start to finish. Working on the show has been difficult to say the least. However, during my time in Tilghman County, Georgia, working with and learning about these characters' lives, I've learned a thing or two.

The first and most important thing that I've learned from "The Foreigner" is that family can be found in the weirdest of places. Charlie, the main character, is being dropped off at this fishing lodge for three days to get away from dealing with his wife's troubles in the hospital. However, we find out that his wife has knowingly been messing around with other people. The only friend Charlie has is Froggy, but Froggy can't always be reliable because he has to go and deal with his Army duties. So where does Charlie turn in this situation? The people he meets at the lodge quickly become his friends, and soon after, family. Though he still has the fact that he can speak perfect English hidden, Charlie brings these people who live in the lodge together. They were once apart from each other because they didn't understand where the other was coming from. Since Charlie came around, everyone seemed happier and the family was becoming more complete. It just goes to show that everyone should be given a chance. Everyone deserves the chance to feel welcome, no matter their background or their truth. If a boring British man can be made into something interesting and then can quickly become the backbone of a fishing lodge, anything can happen.

Another thing I learned from "The Foreigner" is that differences deserve to be accepted. Charlie is socially unable to talk to people, Froggy doesn't respect that and turns him into a foreigner. Owen doesn't like that Charlie is a foreigner, and neither does David, despite his desperate attempts to please Catherine. Ellard is widely misunderstood throughout the whole play as someone who creates mischief around the lodge (though we find out shortly by the end of Act One Scene One who the culprit really is). The point is, no one really accepts anyone at the beginning of the play, but each of the characters have a newfound appreciation for each other by the end of the play. It's classic character development, but also basic classroom knowledge of accepting everyone, no matter where they come from.

While "The Foreigner" deals with some current issues going on today, despite being set in the late 70s and early 80s, it reminds us all that we never know what's waiting around the corner. It could just be the best thing that can happen in our lives, but we'll never know that if we continue to get ourselves down and not believe in our abilities. "The Foreigner" is a show that everyone needs to see, no matter where you may see it at, because it's just the right amount of pick-me-up that all of America needs.