WARSAW — The Center Street Community Theater began in Warsaw only two years ago. The troupe has attracted local amateur talent who want to perform on stage.

“It’s been a slow start, but a good one,” said Beth Anne Brink-Cox, one of the theater’s board members. “It’s been steady growth. We’re already looking toward the next two shows.”

Since starting, Center Street Community Theater has put on four shows and is in the middle of running “The Foreigner,” written by Larry Shue. Brinks-Cox held auditions in December with read throughs taking place in January.

“From the second read through actors already had their characters down,” Brink-Cox said.

“The Foreigner” is about a man named Charlie Baker, depressed his wife may be dying. His friend Froggy takes him to a small resort town of Tilgman, Ga. Soft spoken and depressed, Charlie tells Froggy he can’t speak to anyone. In an effort to help, Froggy tells the townspeople his friend doesn’t speak English and it would be best they not try to talk to him.

Things get complicated when people start telling Charlie their secrets, because he’s not supposed to understand. But they also grow to love him and try to teach him English, which inspires Charlie to invent his own language on the fly.

“This is the best script I’ve ever read,” Brink-Cox said. “The deeper Charlie gets, the more he cares about these people.”

She directed the show in Michigan about 25 years ago and fell in love with it. “It’s a very compelling story,” she said.
The cast features only seven people, most of whom have been in at least one other Center Street Community Theater production. “You want to keep bringing people in,” Brink-Cox said.

In addition to the actors on stage, the theater group has also received enormous support from the community. Brink-Cox said it is important to realize there are ways to be involved without being on stage. “All these tiny details add to the experience,” she said. “I’m really thrilled at the spirit of cooperation. I’m so moved that people want Center Street to succeed.”

To purchase tickets for the show tickets are available on the troupe’s website, centerstreetcommunitytheater.org or through Wagon Wheel Theater’s site. Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $12.

The show begins at 7 p.m. with a improv show Friday and Saturday, March 5-6, with the play taking the stage at 7:30 p.m.