Visiting Idaho from California this weekend, I was intrigued by a play called The Foreigner at the…read morePlaymill Theatre in Island Park. Idaho is about as politically red as it gets, so I was already feeling a little like a foreigner myself. Turns out, that was a fitting way to begin this experience!
My sister and her family, my daughter and son-in-law, and I attended Saturday's 4 p.m. performance with absolutely no expectations.
What a pleasant surprise!
First, the theater itself is charming. Spacious, comfortable seating, high ceilings, and a chandelier made of what looked like antelope horns. Very Idaho! Before the show even begins, the cast is onstage singing familiar songs and entertaining the audience. It's a wonderfully welcoming atmosphere.
I'll admit, it took me most of the first act to figure out exactly what was happening. The story centers on a painfully shy Englishman pretending he doesn't understand English while staying at a rural Georgia lodge. Naturally, everyone around him begins sharing secrets they probably shouldn't. Throw in an inheritance, family drama, and plenty of hilarious misunderstandings, and the laughs start piling up.
Then came Act Two, and boy, did things take a turn!
Suddenly, we're dealing with a scheming minister, religious hypocrisy, white supremacy, and the Ku Klux Klan. When performers actually walked onstage wearing full KKK robes, I had a brief "Oh my goodness, I'm in Idaho!" moment.
But the production absolutely nailed it. The cast was outstanding, the comedic timing was terrific, and the story came together with a clever, satisfying finish. The audience was roaring with laughter!
And let's talk about intermission! Dole Whips, Dream Shakes, sundaes, and other treats are available, with cast members even delivering orders directly to your seats. The Dole Whips were fantastic! Somehow, everyone manages to serve desserts and jump right back into character.
What impressed me most was the message. Here I was in one of America's reddest states, just weeks before the midterm elections, watching a theater full of Idahoans enthusiastically embrace a story celebrating outsiders while exposing the ugliness of racism, white supremacy, and religious hypocrisy.
I honestly didn't see that coming, and I loved it!
The performance ran a little longer than expected, and getting there requires a drive through the Idaho woods, but this is absolutely a destination experience. When we left our 4 p.m. show, a huge line was already forming for the 7 p.m. performance.
The Playmill has been entertaining audiences for more than 60 years, and they're now expanding beyond summer productions into fall and holiday shows. Great to see!
My rating: 4.5 stars for the overall outing, but a solid 5 stars for the performance itself.
If you're visiting Yellowstone, West Yellowstone, or Island Park, make the trip. Terrific performers, a welcoming atmosphere, delicious treats, and plenty of laughs.
I came expecting a little community theater in the Idaho woods. I left thoroughly entertained and a little more hopeful about humanity.
Not bad for a Saturday afternoon!
Well done, Playmill!
